The rent that state senators pay on the taxpayers’ dime is too damn high!
Data obtained by The Post found that 19 of the 27 senators representing parts of New York City — 70 percent — submitted rental bills that exceeded their $40,000 annual allotment for 2011-12.
Among the budget busters was Democrat Jeff Klein of The Bronx, one of the new co-leaders of the Senate. He spent $49,821, although his spokesman said he moved in October 2011 to a cheaper office — which is still over the limit on a yearly basis.
Malcolm Smith of Queens, who spent $50,000 on a Jamaica Avenue office, is one of the five members of Klein’s Independent Democratic Conference, which formed an unprecedented power-sharing coalition this year with the Senate GOP.
Republican Martin Golden of Brooklyn was also among the transgressors, billing taxpayers $48,000 for his district office in Bay Ridge — the same amount Senate Democratic Campaign Committee Chairman and deputy Democratic leader Michael Gianaris of Queens paid for his district office in Astoria.
And Sen. Tony Avella (D-Queens) paid $49,723 for his district office at 38-50 Bell Blvd. He insisted the Senate Republicans negotiated his lease — claiming he didn’t even know he was over the limit.
Even imprisoned ex-Sen. Carl Kruger (D-Brooklyn) and indicted former Sen. Shirley Huntley (D-Queens) got in on the fun, despite having represented lower-rent neighborhoods, spending $45,000 and $47,452, respectively.
Klein cut his annual rent by $15,000 by leaving his East Tremont Avenue district office for the Hutchins Center, where he pays “market rate,” said spokesman Eric Soufer.
“Believe me, nobody comes to work for us because of the accommodations,” Soufer said. “I’ve had college dorm rooms that are bigger than our office.”
Golden blamed his $4,000-a-month rent on Bay Ridge’s “expensive” real-estate market, saying, “We try to be fiscally responsible. It’s difficult.”
Senate administrators had already publicly read the riot act to Sens. Liz Krueger (D-Manhattan) and Ruben Diaz Sr. (D-Bronx) for their $78,537 and $70,212 respective rent bills.
“East Midtown is one of the most expensive real-estate areas in the city, if not the country,” Krueger spokesman Andrew Goldston said of her digs at 211 E. 43rd St.
Diaz claimed Senate Republicans approved his large office at 900 Rogers Place — in one of the city’s poorest areas — and insisted his bill includes utilities and other costs.
Senate Republican leader Dean Skelos’ office said it’s cracking down on the most egregious rent busters and helping senators renegotiate their leases or find cheaper digs.
ekriss@nypost.com
You’re overpaying on senators’ rent
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You’re overpaying on senators’ rent
