While the area’s state legislators are up in arms over the 2009-10 budget supported by Democrats, one talked-about set of costs — member items, or pork — dropped for the Southern Tier in the proposed budget despite a $10 billion increase in spending, according to an Albany watchdog group.
The Empire Center for Public Policy, part of the nonprofit Manhattan Institute for Policy Research, released a report Monday outlining $65.86 million in member items in the state budget.
There are 3,558 earmarks listed on the Web site. A preliminary review by The Evening Tribune shows that overall earmarks — in both volume and dollar amount — have decreased for the Southern Tier since 2008…