Clean Money and Clean Elections (CMCE) is in the news in early 2008 for New York.

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Member Items were recently in the news….

Legislative staff members were required to sign “secret” nondisclosure agreements about member items…

$200 Million this year…

What are member items?

Member items are public monies spent on local activities. any of these items are beneficial to communities. The issue is not whether they are a good use of public money, the issue is the process by which they are awarded.

Another name for member items is "pork." Individual legislative representatives receive requests for financial grants from organizations within their districts. Representatives request money through their house leaders to fund these grants.

What is the fuss about member items?

Secrecy vs. transparency: The amount and distribution of this money, $200 Million, released to the public and the specific distribution does not appear in the budget. The overall distribution is $85 Million to each house and $30 Million to the Governor.

The power of member items for incumbents and reelection: each time there is a groundbreaking, ribbon cutting, or giant check ceremony, there may be news coverage of the event. Each time the representative is mentioned or shown in the news, the public perception of the representative is improved. Over the course of a two-year elected term a representative can receive frequent free public relations boosts such as these. When voters go to the polls, they remember the face and name of the candidate that “has done so much for the community" with tax money. In other words, they have freely spent your hard earned tax money to buy your vote. In short, member items equals reelection.

The power of member items over representatives: In order for your representative to receive member item money, they must remain loyal to and support their house leader. They basically sell their vote on all matters for future reelection.

The unfairness of member items: The vast majority of money for member items goes to members of the majority party of each house. That is, if your chosen representative is in the minority, your district may get no extra money. Even within the majority there is a great disparity of distribution where the more powerful leaders receive more member items.

In 2006, the Governor vetoed several items of the legislatures’ budget, among them the $200 Million in member items. There was strong TV airplay by influential special interests encouraging citizen action for other issues, but nobody really lobbied for member items. Not surprising, in this election year, both houses easily voted to reinstate member items because they know it is their virtual guarantee of reelection.

Reform-minded Individuals and groups do not necessarily want to eliminate funding for deserving activities; they do however insist that the there be fair set standards, and public accountability to end abuses.

If you believe it is time for reform, join the E-march Petition.