A spokeswoman for Governor Cuomo's campaign says the governor actually reformed previous economic development practices, scrapping the notorious legislative member items, known as pork barrel projects, for regional approaches led by local leaders. (wshu.org)
Silver has also been an unabashed defender of legislative member items, saying that lawmakers know their districts best when it comes to allocating state dollars to local causes. (nystateofpolitics.com)
Others resemble the old legislative members items, which were special allocations to individual legislators, going to things like expanding recreational facilities at parks or sprucing up a local theater. (nynow.wmht.org)