| The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) is taking on Republican Assemblyman James Tedisco for his drive to Albany. To some, it might not sound like much of a story. But since he got paid $21,000 to make that drive, it might be a story.
Now, I will preface this by saying that all of this is legal. Tedisco can, just like any other state legislator, submit vouchers for travel and get reimbursed for it. But considering he lives only 20 minutes from Albany, the ethics of these charges could be questioned.
From the DCCC:
Now that Albany politician Jim Tedisco has formally launched his congressional campaign in New York's 20th Congressional District, Tedisco owes voters an explanation as to why he billed them $21,343 in oil and gas receipts for his taxpayer funded vehicle, despite just a 20-minute car ride away to the state capitol from his Schenectady home in the 21st Congressional District.
"Albany politician Jim Tedisco talks tough about cutting government spending, but that hasn't stopped him from billing taxpayers over $21,000 in oil and gas receipts for his taxpayer funded vehicle, despite his 20-minute car ride to the state capital," said Jennifer Crider, Communications Director for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. "During these tough economic times, the very last thing Upstate New York's middle class families need is a sneaky Albany politician like Jim Tedisco sticking them with a $21,000 bill so he can keep living high on the hog. Tedisco needs to stop this hypocrisy and immediately come clean by reimbursing taxpayers $21,000."
Of course, there is a lot of hypocrisy with what Tedisco has said in the past and his actions in getting the taxpayers to pay for his travels. The $21,000 he was reimbursed was over an eight-year period, but that is still a lot of money every year that he was getting reimbursed (and taking advantage of another perk that state legislators get) for driving 17 miles to work. |
