The New York Times and The Albany Times Union both are reporting that false information sent to the state comptroller’s office has been sending payments to three Democratic State Senators currently caucusing with Republicans. The three Democrats – Jose Peralta, Diane Savino and David Valesky – are part of the Independent Democratic Conference voting with Republicans, and are being paid as if they are committee chairs, when Republicans hold those posts. Dick Dadey of Citizens Union, Susan Lerner of Common Cause, Laura Bierman of the League of Women Voters, and Blair Horner of NYPIRG wrote to Republican Senate Majority Leader John Flanagan that passing stipends to vice chairs, "is highly disturbing and exactly the type of legislative leadership legerdemain that feeds public cynicism about state government transparency."