New York State Line For Plundering Taxpayers: Interest groups seek pieces of the $5.1 billion pot, but Gov. Andrew Cuomo has his own ideas on spending it.

Crain's New York reports:

The ink is barely dry on the news of Gov. Andrew Cuomo's re-election, and already lobbyists and interest groups are lining up for handouts.

At stake is the state's unprecedented $5.1 billion budget windfall, most of which comes from settlements with financial institutions.

Everyone, it seems, is clamoring for a piece. Education lobbyists want billions for schools. Social-service nonprofits want hundreds of millions for homeless programs. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority has a $15 billion hole in its capital plan.

Rent-seeking gone wild.