Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver used the occasion of President Obama’s address at the UAlbany nanotech facility this afternoon to note that the money to fund the ever-growing complex came from “discretionary dollars” he and others in the Legislature steered there over the years.

“We invested five million dollars and he was off and running,” he said. “It’s grown over the years exponentially. There are thousands of jobs here in Albany as a result of this facility and I’m very proud to point to all of the buildings to see I, my colleagues and the Capital Region Assembly delegation dedicated millions of discretionary dollars to get to this here.”

It also deepens what seems to be an ongoing debate over who can claim credit for the nanotech facility which has played out over the last two days.

Silver is an unabashed enthusiast when it comes to the nanotech campus and its potential for job creation. His former aide Dean Fuleihan works there now as Executive Vice President for Strategic Partnerships.

Silver has also been an unabashed defender of legislative member items, saying that lawmakers know their districts best when it comes to allocating state dollars to local causes. Gov. Andrew Cuomo disagreed and kept member items out of the state’s $132.6 billion budget (though so-called “bullet aid” for education was allowed and allocated by Senate Republicans).

Silver also said the work at the nanotech facility shows government can spur private-sector job growth.

“I think we’re going to see that multiply around the state, improve the economy around the state as a result of this kind of infrastructure we set up for the private sector economy to come in,” Silver said.

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