New York’s state Senate Democrats aren’t the least bit subtle.
Post State Editor Fredric U. Dicker reports that Bronx Sen. Jeff Klein, who chairs the Democrats’ Senate Campaign Committee, sent a letter to union bosses this week promising “an exclusive meeting” with Senate Dem honchos.
The price tag: $50,000.
The missive comes as the Senate is holding a whip hand over billions in budget cuts sought by Gov. Paterson — cuts that would fall heavily on unionized teachers and health-care employees. And it comes just as Klein, according to Republicans, arranged for the Democrats to slash $180 million from the budget that would have gone to unionized workers.
What a coincidence, then, that Klein is offering what he termed “an opportunity to have face time with the [Senate Democratic] leadership.”
And if 50 grand is too rich for your blood, for a mere $25,000 labor fat cats can become “general members” of the party’s Labor Advisory Council, allowing them to “actively participate in . . . essential policy conversations.”
The solicitation is classic Albany “pay to play,” no doubt about that.
But those not steeped in the capital city’s corruption can be forgiven for seeing a simple shakedown.
* One hand holds a stick: Billions in budget cuts, aimed at union members.
* The other, a carrot: Front the cash, and then we can talk.
And Klein, who’s supposed to be among the smarter Senate Democrats, is dumb enough to put it in writing. (So how dumb must the rest of them be?)
Alas, it seems to be quite legal to award special access for cash (Albany lawmakers write the rules, after all) — though it might be a different story if anyone could prove a link to budget outcomes.
Still, Klein’s letter is so egregious that it begs for an independent investigation.
This sure seems like more than Senate Democrats just being their usual clumsy-moron selves.
A lot more.