ALBANY … Gov



`News from New York Republican State Committee

Mondello Calls for Action on Eve of Spitzer's Birthday Cash Bash

Urges Spitzer To Cancel Fundraiser; Encourages Good Government Groups To Protest Event

ALBANY, NY (06/06/07; 1314)(readMedia)-- Republican State Chairman Joseph N. Mondello today called for action from Governor Eliot Spitzer and good government groups in order to restore public faith and confidence in advance of tomorrow’s big money birthday fundraiser.

“New Yorkers are not fooled by Eliot Spitzer who publicly espouses campaign finance reform and trades huge campaign donations for privileged access to his administration behind closed doors. He should live up to his public posturing and posing, and lead by example,” said Chairman Mondello. “If the Governor wants to maintain any credibility with the people of New York, he must cancel this fundraiser or return donations in excess of what he refers to as his self imposed ‘limits.’ For the good of New York, it is time for Governor Spitzer to stop the hypocrisy.”

After being elected, Governor Spitzer announced in a splashy media event that he would abide by strict campaign finance limits. Since then, he has traveled across the state to raise large amounts of money on a session day when he should have been working for the people. He has headlined events raising funds far in excess of his self-imposed “limits.” He has encouraged individual donors to “bundle” smaller amounts of money by offering an increasing scale of rewards, including selling direct access to the Governor. He has placed the highest price tag ever recorded on a fund raiser in this state asking his most well-heeled contributors to bundle $1 million in support of his re-election three and a half years from now.

Chairman Mondello also urged government advocacy groups, some of whom are currently traveling the state on the topic of campaign finance laws, to hold a public event to discuss the Governor’s fundraising claims and activities.

“Advocacy groups are holding campaign finance hearings around New York State, so it seems they would be interested in commenting on Governor Spitzer’s promises versus his actions,” said Chairman Mondello. “I am hopeful that these groups will join me in urging the Governor in the strongest terms to cancel this event, and I believe that one of their meetings or a protest outside his birthday event would be entirely appropriate.”

Noting that the Legislative session ends on June 21st, Chairman Mondello suggested that families and businesses in New York would be better served if the Governor focused on their needs rather than raising big dollars for an election that is more than three years away.

“The Legislative session will end in a little over two weeks, but instead of focusing on the issues that are important to families in New York—like tax breaks for seniors and businesses, Upstate economic development initiatives, the death penalty for cop killers and other critical issues—the Governor continues to crisscross the state in pursuit of the most ambitious fund raising schedule ever attempted by a sitting governor. New Yorkers deserve better,” Chairman Mondello concluded.

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