Posted on 03/24/2008 1:05:53 PM PDT by pissant
Last we heard from Eliot Spitzer’s replacement, David Paterson had to explain one hotel stay that he charged to his campaign funds that may have been for an extramarital tryst. Now he may have to explain thirteen more that he charged to the state of New York:
Despite owning a house less than 20 minutes from the state Capitol, Gov. Paterson, as lieutenant governor, routinely used taxpayer money to stay at nearby hotels, The Post has learned.
Credit-card records obtained from the state Comptroller’s Office covering Paterson’s nearly 15 months as lieutenant governor showed he charged his state credit card for 13 Albany hotel stays totaling more than $2,500 between Jan. 1, 2007, and this past Feb. 18. …
Despite having a state driver to chauffeur him the 20 minutes home, Paterson, as lieutenant governor, sometimes chose to stay downtown because of a busy schedule, spokesman Errol Cockfield said.
“While he was lieutenant governor, Gov. Paterson had a grueling schedule that required him to be near the Capitol for sensitive negotiations, meetings with legislative leaders, and government-related conferences,” he added.
Sensitive negotiations … for what? As Lieutenant Governor, he had as much power as the hotel doorman in legislative issues. Paterson himself noted that he had no role in budgetary matters, for instance. He wouldn’t have cast any votes, and the Governor would have had the veto power. He had no official role in negotiating anything.
That leaves it to the imagination why Paterson would have eschewed a 20-minute ride home from his chauffeur for an expensive stay at the Crowne Plaza or Clarion. Why didn’t he just return home and save the taxpayers some money? Isn’t that the reason he and his wife spent the money to buy a home nearby the capital?
The people of New York have to wonder when the hits will stop coming. If Paterson has to step down, then Joe Bruno takes over as Governor — even though he’s in the middle of a federal investigation for business dealings outside of politics. Even at that, it would only be temporary, until a special election could be hald. Perhaps that’s what New York needs, as well as a completely new political class.
This almost sounds worse than what Spitzer might have done. lol
If they don’t force Paterson to step down, they will have a lot of egg on their faces. Both should just be impeached.
Except Paterson was not stupid enough to pay $4300 for an hour with a marginal looking 22 yo who gave it away for free to her gang-banging boyfriend.
Let’s hope NYers come to their senses someday.
He’s probably as dumb as a rock.
wow
“That leaves it to the imagination why Paterson would have eschewed a 20-minute ride home from his chauffeur for an expensive stay at the Crowne Plaza or Clarion.”
just because he paid for a night does not mean he stayed the whole night
if it was so close to the office, then how could it be work related, when he could have just kept working at the office
and how could it be otherwise necessary, when his home was so close
The ones who did have left. More people have left NY in the past 10 years than any other state.
Democrats, Gotta Love Em......
ha if they did have a special election i wonder if any R could actually win statewide?
Not as dumb as the ones who voted for him
maybe it involves midgets (oops, I mean small people)
New York has always been a political joke and it’s becoming more of a joke by the hour. New York Liberals are getting what they deserve. But then, in Liberal standards, these men are heroes. Liberalism is an amoral mental disease.
The Lt. Gov gets a limo to get to and from work?
I hope he isn’t driving, he is blind (as well as corrupt).
Why aren’t the epublicans calling for his IMPEACHMENT for MIS-USING FUNDS??
NYers won’t come to their senses. The jerks in NYC are liberals from ALL over the country. They have infected all areas of the city. Carroll Gardens in Brooklyn, NY is a prime example. Liberals galore. It used to be a nice working class community, now the homes go in the millions. Before the last Presidential election I saw an interesting banner hanging from a window near the approach to the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel. Emblazoned on a makeshift sign was “Osama votes Kerry.” It undoubtedly was meant for the liberal freaks who ruined NY and will continue to do so.
He was Stchupping!!!!
Does New York even HAVE any (R)epublicans left?
ROTFL
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.