More Bruno Pork

Bruno got firm unconditional grant

from the Albany Times-Union click for full story

$500,000 to Troy company had no restrictions; another $525,000 went to business

By JAMES M. ODATO, Capitol bureau
First published: Saturday, December 9, 2006

ALBANY -- The Troy firm that received $500,000 through Sen. Majority Leader Joseph Bruno had no strings attached to the money, and got another $525,000 from the state authority overseeing the grants.

Evident Technologies Inc. not only received two $250,000 grants sponsored by Bruno, but also got $525,000 from Empire State Development Corp.'s venture capital fund, state officials said.

Bruno's member item grants to Evident were highly unusual because such legislative grants almost always go to nonprofit organizations.

The grants were also remarkable because friends of Bruno have been investors and directors of Evident. They also contributed to his Republican Senate Committee and one provided plane rides to Bruno and is under investigation for potentially exceeding lobbying gift limits.