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07-16-2007, 08:03 AM
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PoliticsSuffolk comptroller refuses to pay lobbyist
BY RICK BRAND
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July 16, 2007
In Suffolk, no results, no pay
By Rick Brand. rick.brand@newsday.com
Suffolk Comptroller Joseph Sawicki is holding up $16,664 in billings from Albany super-lobbyist Patricia Lynch because she has been unable to get the State Assembly to go along with the county's sales tax extension.
Sawicki informed the county executive's office Friday that he will not pay Lynch's April, May and June vouchers until both the penny sales tax extension and the quarter-cent extension for environmental programs pass.
The sales tax, Sawicki said, should have been approved "in a cakewalk," and Lynch "failed to produce" on the two most important bills the county needs. "I can't see giving them a dime of taxpayer money until they produce the services promised," he said.
Suffolk's bid for a sales tax extension stalled when members of the Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic and Asian Legislative Caucus tried to pressure County Executive Steve Levy to back a hiring site for day laborers in the county, something Levy refused to do. At l the state Senate is slated to return to Albany today to take up unfinished legislative issues; the Assembly will not reconvene today.
Lynch, a former high-level aide to Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver (D-Manhattan), gets $50,000 a year from the county, and has made $141,734 from Suffolk since she started working for the county in September 2004.
Levy said he understands Sawicki's frustration, but that "Joe's action could inadvertently hurt Suffolk if it means the firm won't be working for us at a time when we need it the most. They didn't cause the problem and are working with us every day to set up a new session with the speaker and make sure we are on the agenda."
Lynch did not return a phone call seeking comment. IS she paid cause everyone is scared of Shelly Silver?
» Post your resume
» Post a job
PoliticsSuffolk comptroller refuses to pay lobbyist
BY RICK BRAND
Email this story
Printer friendly format
July 16, 2007
In Suffolk, no results, no pay
By Rick Brand. rick.brand@newsday.com
Suffolk Comptroller Joseph Sawicki is holding up $16,664 in billings from Albany super-lobbyist Patricia Lynch because she has been unable to get the State Assembly to go along with the county's sales tax extension.
Sawicki informed the county executive's office Friday that he will not pay Lynch's April, May and June vouchers until both the penny sales tax extension and the quarter-cent extension for environmental programs pass.
The sales tax, Sawicki said, should have been approved "in a cakewalk," and Lynch "failed to produce" on the two most important bills the county needs. "I can't see giving them a dime of taxpayer money until they produce the services promised," he said.
Suffolk's bid for a sales tax extension stalled when members of the Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic and Asian Legislative Caucus tried to pressure County Executive Steve Levy to back a hiring site for day laborers in the county, something Levy refused to do. At l the state Senate is slated to return to Albany today to take up unfinished legislative issues; the Assembly will not reconvene today.
Lynch, a former high-level aide to Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver (D-Manhattan), gets $50,000 a year from the county, and has made $141,734 from Suffolk since she started working for the county in September 2004.
Levy said he understands Sawicki's frustration, but that "Joe's action could inadvertently hurt Suffolk if it means the firm won't be working for us at a time when we need it the most. They didn't cause the problem and are working with us every day to set up a new session with the speaker and make sure we are on the agenda."
Lynch did not return a phone call seeking comment. IS she paid cause everyone is scared of Shelly Silver?