New York State Corruption Pervasive

[From article]
"This is where the real shame of Albany comes to light.
Espada’s M.O. was hardly a secret. Both parties had been down the road a piece with him already. Both had had a chance to see him for what he was: a political con artist in search of a big score.
[. . .]
But instead of denouncing his shakedowns, both parties wooed Espada with offers of huge political power. The Republicans made him Senate president, the second top job. When the Democrats got him back on the rebound, they did even better, naming him their majority leader.
[. . .]
Note that the senators understood that they had nothing to fear from their own Legislative Ethics Commission. The panel allegedly rides herd on members’ ethical performance. But it’s somehow managed to find little fault.
[. . .]
Legislators have made funneling money to nonprofits with which they have close ties into an art form.

http://www.nypost.com/p/news/opinion/opedcolumnists/it_dodge_city_without_wyatt_earp_hu1A9euNreruGFvgVKPnOP

It's Dodge City without Wyatt Earp
What the case of Pedro Espada says about our corrupt Albany government
By TOM ROBBINS
New York Post
Last Updated: 3:04 PM, March 13, 2011
Posted: 1:01 AM, March 13, 2011