In the triumvirate that controls New York State, there was no one more powerful than Joe Bruno.  As leader of the Republican controlled State Senate, with a Republican governor, he was the sphincter of New York government.  Nothing passed without his approval.

But even rulers need some walking around money, and Joe Bruno was no exception.  From the AP :

Joseph Bruno, the former majority leader of the New York Senate and for a time the most powerful Republican in state politics, was indicted Friday on federal corruption charges.

Bruno, who retired from the Legislature in July after more than a dozen years leading the Senate, is accused of using his position to steer contracts and grants to businesses that paid him a total of $3.2 million in consulting fees or other compensation from 1993 through 2006.

Bruno exploited “his official position for personal compensation and enrichment” in dealing with companies and 16 unions with business before the state, according to the 8-count indictment brought by the U.S. attorney for the Northern District of New York.

Bruno has yet to be proven to have committed any crime.  But when you’ve got the power that rested in Joe Bruno’s hands, a nod, a wink, even just a glance, would be sufficient to make huge corporations crumble to his perceived will.  New York spends a lot of money, and the good graces of Joe Bruno is something that any enterprising business would desire.

If Joe Bruno enjoyed the benefits of power, he did so because we have a government that promotes such abuse.  Our Senators and Assemblyman are “part-timers,” paid a pittance and expected to dole out twice as much working just the charity circuit in their districts.  We’ve allowed two chamber leaders to maintain their iron-clad control over their worker bees, making their whims the stuff of fortunes for anyone doing business with the state, or an agenda to promote. 

And who can blame a person with an ego large enough to want to be an elected official for wanting to enjoy a bit of financial independence?  Hey, they pal around with other powerful people.  Would you want to be the only person on the block without a $6,000 shower curtain?  How humiliating.

Did Joe Bruno have to do much to “exploit” his position as majority leader to get people to throw cash at his feet?  I would imagine he wouldn’t have to do anything.  Nothing at all.  They would throw that money at him no matter what he said or did.  I bet that they would throw that money at him even if he told them not to.  He was the sphincter of New York government, and everybody knew it.  There was nothing he could do to stop those who wanted influence from throwing money his way.

If he actively caused people to throw him the loot, then perhaps he has committed crimes and exploited his office for personal gain.  If it just worked out that way, perhaps he’s done nothing more wrong than simply being Joe Bruno, the sphincter.

But if this indictment puts a sour taste in ones mouth, then don’t blame Joe Bruno.  Somebody has to be the majority leader of the New York State Senate, and she’s going to enjoy the perks of office whether she wants to or not.  Change the system that provides the incentive for this to happen.  The positions should be full-time, appropriately compensated, and held to a strictly enforced ethical code that prohibits outside compensation rather than encourages it.

This isn’t a Joe Bruno problem as much as it’s a New York problem.  When we refuse to increase the salaries for our legislators, we invite others to fill the gap.  If you find that unsavory, then change it.