For those doing business with the state, it’s time to pay up.
Lawmakers in Albany are doing what they do best — targeting lobbyists and special interests for campaign cash as they begin negotiating a new budget that will exceed $150 billion.
Individuals and entities dependent on Albany decision-making said they’ve been besieged by more than 40 solicitations from legislators in recent weeks.
“I have kids to feed, my slender fortune will be gone by March at this rate,” joked one lobbyist who shared a lengthy list of fund-raising requests that he has received.
The solicitations thus far cover just January and February.
Budget negotiations heat up in March before the April 1 deadline.
And since all 211 seats in the Legislature are up for grabs, the fund-raising frenzy will continue unabated through June, Albany insiders predict.
State Senate Deputy Majority Leader John DeFrancisco, a Republican who is considering running for governor, is holding a $1,000-a-person fund-raiser Tuesday.
State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli, a Democrat who does not appear to face a stiff GOP challenge, is holding a Jan. 23 breakfast at Albany’s University Club, with tickets priced at $500 to $10,000.
On Jan. 29, seven fund-raisers will be held, nearly all at the Fort Orange Club or University Club, which are both just blocks from the Capitol.
The beneficiaries include Republican Sens. Ken Lavalle, James Tedisco, Andrew Lanza and Chris Jacobs; Assembly GOP Minority Leader Brian Kolb, who is running for governor; and Democratic Assemblyman Gary Pretlow.
Senate GOP Majority Leader John Flanagan held a fund-raiser on Jan. 8.
For the general election, Senate candidates can receive up to $11,000 from an individual; for the Assembly, the limit is $4,400.
Government-watchdog groups say the practice of lawmakers, lobbyists and their clients discussing business in the Capitol and then heading to nearby fund-raisers is an invitation to corruption.
“The legislators have their hands out from both sides of the aisle. The lawmakers will try to get as much as they can from people who want something,” said Barbara Bartoletti of the League of Women Voters, who believes such fund-raising should be banned while the Legislature is in session.
Scott Reif, a spokesman for Senate Republicans, who are fighting to maintain a slim majority, defended the fund-raisers.
“While campaign contributions have absolutely no effect whatsoever on legislation, the reality is it takes money to run for public office in New York,” Reif said.