In Spitzer's Albany, still more business as usual

Newsday reports:

With Spitzer in the governor's office, bloated government grinds on, while political gamesmanship seems to have reached new levels.

During this year's state budget wrestling match, for example, Spitzer was quoted: "I in no way will regret having a late budget if it is the only way we contain the rabid spending that has been the story behind here up in Albany." Great thought, but in the end, this year's budget featured shifty bookkeeping and ... well ... rabid spending.

A budget analysis from State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli's office found that spending was "undercounted by at least $2.9 billion." In addition, "a number of payments were shifted between fiscal years," which "had the effect of decreasing the rate of growth in disbursements from year to year."

After adjusting for these shenanigans, total state spending leaped by a breathtaking 8.7 percent, according to the comptroller's analysis.

That's business-as-usual big spending under Gov. Spitzer.

Then there was misuse of state police by top Spitzer aides in a political scheme to damage Republican State Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno. Spitzer's office was slammed by Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, a fellow Democrat, and investigations continue by the Albany district attorney, the state Ethics Commission and the State Senate's Investigations Committee.

Meanwhile, Spitzer, so adept at moral outrage regarding Wall Street, has apologized, but no heads have rolled in his administration. One suspended aide recently returned to the state payroll at a salary of $175,000. That's the business-as-usual old boys' network in Albany.

Meet the new boss,same as the old boss.Did your income go up 8.7% last year?