WASHINGTON — Rep. Laura Gillen of Long Island has been highlighting $500,000 in federal money directed to her district, even though she opposed the final version of the spending legislation that delivered the funds.
The New York Democrat last week promoted two local awards: $250,000 for the Floral Park Fire Department to help buy a new fire truck, and another $250,000 for the Franklin Square Public Library.
“I’m proud to announce that I secured $250,000 in federal funding for the Village of Floral Park to purchase a new fire truck, helping ensure our first responders have the equipment they need to keep Long Island safe,” she said.
“I’ll keep fighting to bring federal dollars home.”
The money was included in a consolidated appropriations package approved by Congress earlier this year. Gillen (D-NY) had supported an earlier version of the measure in January of last year.
That first version, however, collapsed after Senate Democrats pushed back over Department of Homeland Security funding following two fatal shootings involving immigration enforcement officers, triggering a broader funding fight that ultimately ended in a government shutdown.
In the vote that actually mattered to pass that legislation into law, which came in February, Gillen voted against it, roll call records show.
Gillen’s team argued that she was right to take credit for getting the funding because she helped both the Franklin Square Public Library and the Floral Park Fire Department prepare applications for the money and worked to get it through the cumbersome congressional appropriations process.
“When Floral Park reached out for help funding a new fire truck, I got to work. I’m proud to have been responsible for delivering this funding to the Village, which will make it safer for firefighters and residents. The funding was supported by local leaders from both parties,” she said in a statement.
Her rival, Republican Jeanine Driscoll, slammed Gillen over the brag.
“Laura Gillen – again- takes credit for funding for which she voted NO. This time it’s the Franklin Square Library. Stop lying Laura. She is shameless,” Driscoll chided.
Numerous pols have been caught bragging about securing funding for their districts that came from legislation they voted against.
During the Biden administration, Democrats often needled Republicans like retiring Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC), who touted funding for projects such as Shipwatch Square Long Point Road that came from the bipartisan infrastructure bill or the Inflation Reduction Act they opposed.
Last year, The Post reported on how Gillen took credit for nearly $1 million in federal firefighting funding that came from a government funding package she opposed.
