It certain appears like The New York Times has some bizarre agenda when it reports on obvious petty theft involving at least 130 state legislators — but only names one . . . who’s already been voted out of workplace.
The paper reports in nice element on how state Sen. Jessica Ramos appears to have double-billed for journey bills — getting reimbursed for lodge payments and practice tickets by both her marketing campaign accounts and the state, which covers certified work-related bills for electeds.
Bad Jessica! If she did it, let her face the full penalties of the legislation.
But what about all the other pols indulging in a scheme that seems not just widespread in Albany but virtually common?
Sure appears like a bid to make Ramos — a longtime Working Families Party stalwart, now loathed by her fellow Democrats after endorsing Andrew Cuomo for mayor and defeated in her last major as a outcome — the sacrificial goat for epidemic corruption.
Albany’s “per diem” system — paying legislators a mounted sum to cowl their bills for time in the capital on official enterprise — was abused for a long time, but reforms and a couple of hefty pay raises supposedly closed the largest loopholes.
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Hah! The Times factors to (but, again, won’t identify) dozens of legislators still embezzling $300 here and $50 there.
It’s pennyante stuff, but then again the crew up in Albany is fairly low-rent.
Just wait for what video games we’ll (ultimately) study they play with the taxpayer-funded marketing campaign money they lately awarded themselves, also in the identify of “reform.”
Remember, these are largely individuals who could never dream of making actual cash in the non-public financial system, keen to seize every stray greenback they can while the going’s good.
The Times can’t deliver the hammer down on one official enemy of the laborious left while ignoring the proof that the complete barrel of apples is rotten.
Let’s see what they’re hiding and who they’re protecting for.