Tuesday, April 15, 2008

David Paterson, Big Spender


On the upside, at least he's not claiming old underwear for $3 deductions like Mrs. Clinton used to.

Still though, $150 to charity? Dude. He spent more for the cheap hotel rooms with his myriad girlfriends.
Gov. Paterson and his wife last year gave a shockingly low $150 to charity, despite a combined income of nearly $270,000, the couple's income-tax filings show.

The $150 went to the Salvation Army in the form of used clothing, a Paterson aide said.

The couple did not check any of the charity-contribution boxes, such as for the World Trade Center Memorial, listed on the state tax form.

The $150 donation was dwarfed by the two other state officials.

Attorney General Andrew Cuomo reported having last year made $14,000 in charitable contributions on an estimated income of $545,000.

Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli, who is single and reported $143,027 in total income, gave $3,065 to 29 charities last year, up from $1,633 in 2006.

Paterson's paltry giving also came up short compared to his gubernatorial predecessors.

Multimillionaire Eliot Spitzer, who resigned earlier this year in the wake of a prostitution scandal, last year reported giving away $141,635, or 7 percent of his and his wife's total 2006 income, according to the couple's returns released last year.

George Pataki, who was widely criticized for shortchanging charities, reported donating $2,600 in 1994, the year before he became governor.

But that included $885 worth of used clothing to the Salvation Army and more than $300 in corn and other produce to nonprofit groups.

In his last year as governor, Pataki reported giving $6,636 to charity, mostly in the form of clothing and household goods.

Pataki's predecessor, Mario Cuomo, in his last year as governor, reported donating $30,360 back to the state, as well as $6,884 in donations to charities.

A Paterson spokesman would not discuss his meager charitable giving.
Typical Democrat. Always happy to spend taxpayer money, but incredibly cheap when it comes to their own finances.

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