NEW YORK -- It costs a lot of money -- other people's money, that is -- to stay in the majority in the New York Legislature, a new review out this morning shows.
The New York Public Interest Research Group looked at campaign spending by the Democrats and Republicans in the Assembly and Senate and found, no great surprise, that those in power spend more than those out of power. But the money flow, thanks to financial help from Albany's bulging special interest communities, are revealing, nonetheless.
The Senate Republicans, once the big spenders when they were in control of the Senate, saw things flip around the past two years under Democratic control: Senate Democrats unleashed $31 million to try to stay in power to the $23.5 million by the GOP senators.
Over in the Assembly, where the GOP is deep in the minority, Assembly Democrats spent nearly $17 million the past two years while the GOP Assembly members' campaign tabs hit $5.4 million.
--Tom Precious
