“Economic development” is one of the more rancid ways state government burns billions in taxpayer money, but the politicians love these programs because it lets them shower gifts to buy some popularity or reward a donor. The only question is how naked the waste will get.
The Citizens Budget Commission is calling on Gov. Andrew Cuomo to veto three particularly absurd economic-development bills, which would increase the funds going to the Empire State Economic Development Fund, the New Farmers Grant Fund and Entrepreneurship Assistance Centers.
All three programs have been growing for years; not one of them even tries to measure results or show success.
Of course, Cuomo is the king of economic-development waste, what with his $10 billion in “Andy Land” white elephants. Does the pot dare to call the kettle black?
But the gov is also staring at rapidly growing budget deficits if the state sticks to its current fiscal course. Killing these bills would make closing next year’s gap at least a tiny bit easier. How about it, sir?
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