Former U.S. Sen. Al D'Amato reveled in the moniker of "Senator Pothole."

"It means you're attentive and you're there and available," he once said in an interview.

Relatively few members of Albany's political class these days, though, are looking to become the new pothole king or queen.

Despite what any motorist, as well as tire dealer and tow truck driver would agree is the worst winter in years for potholes and general road decay, the topic has drawn little attention in the Legislature, at least compared to some of the high profile issues that have consumed so much speech time and ad budgets.

Earlier this month, lawmakers debated the pros and cons of the DREAM Act, which if passed, would offer tuition aid to college students who are non-citizens.

There has been endless talk of creating a universal Pre-Kindergarten plan even though lots of schools across the state don't even have full-day Kindergarten,

Yet the debate on potholes, or the need for more road funding has been muffled at best.

Consider this: the DREAM Act would affect an estimated 8,000 college students. And universal Pre-K could bring some 200,000 youngsters into the system.

New York, though, has 11.4 million licensed drivers and most of those by now have probably been jarred, shaken and bounced by potholed roads.

Reasons for the disparity says a lot about the current Capitol culture and what draws the spotlight.

Consider the following:

Potholes are forever. Unlike causes that hinge on a single vote like the DREAM Act or maybe gay marriage or a tax cap in prior years, there's always a need for pothole funding. Motorists are so used to New York's crumbling roads that it takes a big event to change the mindset.

"What we find is the attention that is paid to infrastructure and road and bridge construction tends to be episodic," said Carolyn Bonifas Kelly of TRIP, a research group that focuses on transportation issues. "When a bridge falls down or there are potholes on the roads you get these sort of temporary bursts of indignation but they are typically short-lived."

Highway supervisors aren't squeaky wheels. Longtime Capitol observers believe that local highway supervisors used to carry more sway with lawmakers. But over the years, the rise of professional advocacy groups for areas such as education or health have changed the dynamic. Well-funded and highly organized, they can bring in demonstrators and launch massive ad campaigns for their cause. To be sure, road builders are well funded, but pothole filling is a distinctly local function.

Local highway superintendents came to Albany earlier in the month to ask for more funds but they drew little attention. School funding advocates by contrast, are in the Capitol virtually every day.

There are no ribbon cuttings for pothole repairs. Politicians love to attend ceremonial openings of roads or other projects. But fixing potholes are routine. And glomming on can backfire.

When former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger filled a pothole during a news conference in 2005, coverage focused as much on the white pants he was wearing as the issue of highway funding, Bonifas Kelly said.

Raising gas taxes is politically hazardous. Federal gas taxes pay for highway improvements nationwide and that money can allow localities breathing room for maintenance needs like pothole filling.

But it hasn't been raised beyond its 18.4 cents-per-gallon level in years, said Robert Sinclair Jr. spokesman for AAA of New York. (In New York, the state/federal tax is 68.2 cents.)

Sinclair added that his AAA club has gotten lots of pothole-related service calls this winter. In January, for instance, they got 13,000 calls for flat tire assistance – compared to a normal 8,000 calls.

All of this isn't to say that there won't be more highway funding in the 2014-15 budget.

Some 90 lawmakers earlier in the month signed a letter in support of increasing the Consolidated Highway Improvement Program, or CHIPS, funding to $488.1 million, up $50 million the current $438.1 million allocation.

They also want to create a $200 million fund for bridges and culverts.

Assemblyman Phil Palmesano, a Corning Republican, noted lawmakers during a St. Patrick's Day gathering at the governors mansion were also mentioning the need for repair money to Gov. Andrew Cuomo. Palmesano briefly spoke about potholes during an earlier Assembly vote on budgetary matters.

"Our local roads and bridges are crumbling," he said.

rkarlin@timesunion.com • 518-454-5758 • @RickKarlinTU