Another great piece by D&C Albany Bureau reporter Joseph Spector about more shady deals between Democrat Assemblyman David Gantt and his political protege, Robert Scott Gady. First, no offense to longtime Albany reporter Jay Gallagher, but it seems all Jay does is whine about how much he thinks Albany sucks. Ummm, no kidding Jay Albany sucks, what else do you got?

Back to Gantt. First we had Gantt totally flip-flopping on the street camera issue and submitting legislation that would direct contracts to a company that his former political staffer is lobbying for. Then Gantt backpedals, saying that he really doesn’t support his own bill and suggests that it won’t even pass. When a prominent TV newsreporter asks him why he would submit a bill he doesn’t support and knows won’t pass, Gantt responds in typical Democrat arrogance, “That’s for me to know and for you to find out!” I still can’t believe a longtime elected official actually said something so childish. Well, now we have a brand spankin’ new Gantt political corruption scandal tied to Robert Scott Gady.

Here’s a section of the story by Spector:

Instead, Gantt, D-Rochester, who heads the Assembly Transportation Committee, is seeking to have the state Department of Motor Vehicles run the courses online. Now, about a dozen companies and nonprofit groups, such as AAA and AARP, manage the classes.

“It’s a pretty drastic plan,” said John Corlett, director of government affairs for AAA in New York. “It would shut down all classroom courses and essentially require every driver’s license applicant to take a DMV-administered Internet safety course.”

Moreover, the narrow language in the bill could also favor giving the Web-development contract to an Albany-area company, CMA Consulting Services Inc., whose lobbyist, Robert Scott Gaddy, is a former Gantt aide.

The allegations are not the first time that Gantt’s relationship with Gady has come under fire. Last week, industry officials who want to install red-light cameras at upstate New York intersections complained that Gantt’s bill on the issue is so narrowly worded that only CMA could get the work.

**snipet**

The bill’s language would allow the state to charge up to $100 for the courses, significantly more than what some groups now charge.

AARP, for instance, charges just $10 for the class.

More than 100,000 people take its class in New York each year; 45 percent of those are 65 to 80, some of whom do not have Internet access and wouldn’t be able to take the course online, said Bill Ferris, AARP’s legislative representative.

“This would eliminate their ability to take a drivers’ safety course in their community, force them to take it on the Internet and almost quadruple the cost of the program to them,” Ferris said.

“That is unacceptable to AARP.”

This is great. Dumping on senior citizens who everyone knows will be excluded from participating in this program by David Gantt’s bill, just so he can steer government business towards the company his former political staffer lobbies for.

I used to laugh when people talked about politicians lining their pockets with state funds (our taxdollars), but David Gantt personally has proven that this is true. He writes several pieces of legislation that specifically benefits his friend, Robert Scott Gady. Gady then makes political contributions back to Gantt. And David has already intimated that he can care less who knows about it (the media and more importantly, you and I, who are really the ones paying off his political friends for him). I wonder what additional political corruption by David Gantt rising star Joseph Spector will uncover next.

Actually, keep it up Mr. Gantt. You are doing a great service for the Rochester Republican Senators/Assemblymen by dragging your Democrat colleagues and other Democrat candidates into this hole with you. Has anyone asked Joe Morelle, David Koon and Susan John if they support these Gantt bills? Morelle is Gantt’s political boss. He should be stopping Gantt from doing this. Unless…

Remember, this is exactly what we’ll get if the Democrats take over everything in this state.

Vote for Jim Alesi, Joe Robach AND David Gantt!!!