The Stakeholder
NY-20: Albany Politician Tedisco Refuses to Defend His Use of Taxpayer Funded Mail, Cars, and Gas
UPDATE: See the taxpayer-funded mail that Tedisco sent to voters outside his assembly district here and here.
DCCC Press:
Tedisco Hypocrisy Exposed in Video of Him Attacking State Funded Vehicles, and in Taxpayer Funded Mail Piece Sent to Households Outside Assembly District
Despite his tough talk, career Albany politician Jim Tedisco sure does like his taxpayer funded perks - then he hides from answering questions about his perks.
Tedisco likes to blast his fellow Albany politicians for sending taxpayer funded mail outside their districts although he does the same thing himself. Tedisco's inappropriate use of his mail perk follows revelations that he advocated cutting spending on State vehicles while Tedisco and his staff have been using two state funded vehicles, and he charged the state more than $21,000 for gasoline.
What has Tedisco said to defend his use of tax payer funded perks including government cars, gasoline, and mail? Nothing.
"Do as I say and not as I do Albany politician Jim Tedisco has refused to stand up and explain to voters why he's spending their tax dollars on government cars, gasoline, and mail while their struggling to make ends meet and New York's budget is in the red," said Jennifer Crider, Communications Director for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. "Times are tough in Upstate New York, the last thing families need is more double-talk from another career Albany politician like Jim Tedisco who spends their tax money freely on himself, while they are left paying higher taxes each year."
A pdf of the mail Tedisco sent out of his district is available upon request.
BACKGROUND
- Tedisco Advocated
for Cutting Spending on State Vehicles...
In 2008, Tedisco offered to cut spending on the state budget by suspending state vehicle purchases.- "How ‘bout if we suspend state vehicle purchases for ‘ya? Can we do some of that?" Tedisco asked Gov. Patterson. "We got a few ideas, Governor. Why don't you bring us in the room and let us sit down and talk about some of these things." [NY Leaders meeting transcript, 11/18/08; See 3:05 on: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m771k92FKWE]
... But Spent Over $20,000 on Gas for State Vehicle
- Tedisco began using
a state funded vehicle in 2001 with oil and gas purchases provided by taxpayer
dollars
From September 2000 through March 2008, Tedisco charged $21,343.76 in state vehicle oil and gas receipts, despite living only 17 miles from the Capitol. [New York State Assembly, Expenditure Reports, 1996-2008; Google Maps]
Tedisco's office even provides his aide, Howard Becker, with a state vehicle, making him one of only three in the Assembly to have one. [Times-Union, 3/19/07]
- Hundreds of Dollars
Charged on Same Day in 2001
The oil and gas receipts in 2001 are notable for two occasions where substantial amounts were charged on the same day.- On June 29, 2001, a total of $413.80 was charged for oil and gas in three separate charges.
- On December 11, 2001, a total of $628.46 was charged in five separate charges. [New York State Assembly, Expenditure Reports, 1996-2008]
- August 9, 1987: Tedisco
Slams Democrats for Sending Taxpayer-Funded Mail Outside
District
On August 9, 1987, Tedisco attacked other Assembly Members for sending taxpayer-funded mail outside the district.
Tedisco, R- Schenectady, said mailing to opposition districts "is not observing legislative protocol and not helping the district." [Times Union, 8/9/87]
- February 5, 2009: Tedisco
Uses Taxpayer Money to Fund Political Mail Outside
District
On February 5th 2009, local taxpayers received a piece of mail from the New York State Assembly touting the work that Tedisco has done.
One mailer arrived in the 12801 zip code, which is outside of Tedisco's assembly district. [Tedisco State-Funded Mail, Arrived: 2/5/09; Assembly Member Search]
HEADLINE: Obama refuses to defend his use of air force one and security for vacationing at Camp David.
HOW WAS CAMP DAVID this weekend Mr. President? Tough 3 weeks on the job, huh? Too bad all of the laid-off families in America couldn’t afford to go on vacation with you.
How can you scold CEO’s for being overpaid and then overpay yourself with a vacation on the taxpayers dime within the same week? That’s right, you’re just words and speeches; you don’t actually live by what you say. Try living by example for once and live on a reasonable budget like the rest of us poor folk.
why was okay for bush to do the same thing
It’s never okay for any president to be a hypocrite - no matter who it is. Obama doesn’t get a honeymoon pass to preach one thing and do the opposite (especially when he’s spending a huge amount of taxpayer money to vacation less than 3 weeks into his tenure).
Here we go again…......I thought we already covered this topic on this website a few days ago. Here is what ‘TourPro’ posted on this website a few days ago.
“Whoever came up with this should be commended for their sense of humor. It is a joke, right?
($21 343.76 / 8 years) / 52 weeks = $51.31 per week
So, that would be an average of $10.26 per 5 days. Since the accusation is relying on the Google Map of his commute, let’s assume a round-trip of 33 miles.
I’d say .31 cents a mile is a pretty good deal. Especially since the per diem for using his own vehicle would have been higher.
Can somebody check my numbers?”
Maybe grammar school arithmetic is too hard for intellects to cipher anymore.
Amazing! .31 cents a mile is correct!
We have the Democrats trying to and talking about spending 7,000,000,000,000.00 (7 Trillion) dollars. The people they want to put in charge of this are TAX Cheats, Adulterers, or worse, most of whom have had some sort of sweetheart land deal. And yet they have the nerve to come here and lie about 20,000 dollars. Where is the sense of priority?
Tom Daschle’s actions are what they should be talking about here. They should be trying to get him out of their party because he makes them look bad. Clean your own house before you worry about your neighbors.
Chris D - you’re asking way too much from their core base. How dare you ask them to think for themselves and read up on the facts when their own party wants them to stay in the dark? That’s just too much of a burden and they don’t have time to be bothered. Anyway, if their sitting in Detroit for example then there’s a 50/50 chance they can’t read and we shouldn’t expect them to learn how or for the teachers and parents to do their jobs. No, the only answer to America’s problems is for the Democrats to continue to tell people they don’t have high expectations for their success, they will never be anybody, keep pushing them into the ground, tell them they can never learn a trade and be productive, and that the Democrat politicians are smarter and better than they can ever hope to be. That’s the liberal way.
Seriously though, let us not forget that the DEMOCRATIC PARTY IS IN THE BUSINESS OF PROMOTING FAILURE. If people succeed, Dem. politicians are out of a job!