The Not-So Fiscal Conservative Side Of Jim Tedisco

Assembly Minority Leader Jim Tedisco can talk a good game about caring for his constituents and good old fashioned Republican values. He doesn't want to take a position on a bill in Congress that gives a strong stimulus to the economy because it was too long to read. He called things in there (so he read a little?) earmarks and pork-barrel politics. It sounds great, really. Fighting for the common man, hurrah. Too bad it just doesn't match up with the Jim Tedisco he doesn't want people to see.

From The Albany Project:

First, a little background, the Assembly now has 109 Democratic members and 41 Republican members. The Republican number has declined to a record-low level under the three-plus years (two election cycles) of Tedisco's "leadership."

But, even though there are many more Democrats than Republicans in the Assembly, Tedisco has seen fit to give out three times more free cars to his members and staff than are provided to Democratic members and staff.

According to the Times-Union blog post (it really should be a story, and may be tomorrow), the Democrats in the Assembly super-majority give out four free cars -- to the Speaker, the Majority Leader, the Ways and Means Committee chairman, and the Assembly chief of staff.

"Fiscal conservative" Tedisco gives out 12 cars -- to himself and nine other members and two top staffers.

A "free car" is worth $300-$500 a month. Do the math, and it's clear that Tedisco is spending about $40,000 a year more on free cars than the Assembly majority.

And that doesn't even include the gas for those cars. Fiscal discipline is all well and good to prevent job creation, but when it comes to getting him and members of the Assembly GOP a set of wheels...bring on the perks of office!

Or you could support Democrat Scott Murphy instead, because New York's 20th District deserves better.