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So-called Pork Barrel spending is back in Albany politics, making a quiet return this year in the form of what are now called legislative earmarks. Millions of dollars of these earmarks are being doled out for a variety of projects by both legislative chambers. And as Capital Tonight’s Nick Reisman shares, it should come as no surprise that good government advocates aren’t thrilled with the earmark system, and they’re calling for more transparency while legislative leaders defend the program.

The state’s top legislative leaders are defending what critics believe is yet another round of legislative pork barrel spending — money for projects requested by individual lawmakers for everything from dog parks to hotel renovations.

“We work very closely with our finance staff and executive agencies. All I can tell you is that all of their projects get considered on their own merits,” said Senate Majority Leader John Flanagan.

During a recent trip to the Walkway Over The Hudson in Poughkeepsie, Senate Majority Leader John Flanagan defended state-funded projects that he says offer a benefit to the community.

“To me, these are investments of public tax dollars. I take this obligation incredibly seriously. You know what? Here we are. If this is pork, I can live with that,” said Flanagan.

Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie there also defended the spending; saying one project went toward installing security cameras at a housing project.

“We want security and we want to be protected. So if you want to call putting security cameras in a housing development that has a lot of crime, so be it. Give me another ham sandwich,” said Heastie.

Budget watchdogs call those claims bologna.

“Well, it’s a problem when you consider this is a Legislature just running up a credit card. They’ve been taking $385 million a year and adding it on to the debt limit they’re using to fund these projects,” said Ken Girardin, Empire Center for Public Policy.

The funds are coming from the state Dormitory Authority, controlled by the Cuomo administration. Ken Girardin of Empire Center says the money should be directed to more long-term projects.

“Eventually you’re going to need that borrowing capacity to pay for more important stuff, like bridges and roads and water mains,” said Girardin.

And while lawmakers insist the spending is different than the old earmark system, the minority parties in the state Senate and Assembly were largely shut out of receiving any of the projects.

“A lot of that transpired before I became the leader. I’m sure we’re going to have ongoing discussions about this. But I’ll be more than happy to take a look at any of the projects that come in and up for discussion,” said Flanagan.

Members of the senate democratic conference didn’t receive any funding, but Jeff Klein, a leader of the breakaway IDC faction in the chamber received $11.7 million over the years.

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