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WASHINGTON — Long Island Rep. Laura Gillen recently bragged about $500,000 worth of federal funds that were sent to her district, despite voting against the final passage of the bill.
Last week, the congresswoman touted $250,000 sent to the Floral Park Fire Department to purchase a new firetruck and $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.”
Those funds came from a consolidated appropriations bill that Congress passed earlier this year. Technically, Gillen (D-NY) voted for an initial version of that package in January of last year.
But Senate Democrats then revolted and killed that initial bill due to its funding for the Department of Homeland Security in the wake of two deadly shootings involving immigration enforcement officers, which sparked a standoff that led to 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.
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