Mudslinging intensifies in 20th CD

The mud is getting deep in the 20th Congressional District, with Democrats and Republicans taking aim at each other's candidate.

Dems in Washington are accusing James Tedisco (R - Schenectady) of driving around on the taxpayers' dime in a state-owned vehicle, breaking his longstanding pledge to eliminate government waste. The GOP responds by calling on Scott Murphy (D - Glens Falls) to pay his taxes, claiming the Democrat still owes the state for a business he sold ten years ago.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) is brandishing documents and maps claiming that Tedisco, the State Assembly Minority Leader, billed the state $21,343.76 for gas and oil receipts between 2000 and 2008. The committee claims Tedisco has been using his taxpayer-funded vehicle to make the round trip between his Schenectady home and the State Capitol in Albany.

"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," DCCC spokeswoman Jennifer Crider said.

In a statement, Tedisco spokesman Joshua Fitzpatrick dodged the issue by jabbing back at Murphy.

"This is clearly a desperate attempt by Democrats in Washington to provide cover for their tax-troubled candidate," Fitzpatrick said. "If we have learned anything from the headlines this week, it is that there is no shortage of politicians who think they are above the law when it comes to paying taxes."

The National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) has compared Murphy to former Sen. Tom Daschle (D - South Dakota), Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, and U.S. Rep. Charles Rangel (D - New York). All three Democrats are under fire for unpaid taxes.

WHOSE DEBT IS IT ANYWAY?

On July 22, 1999, the state issued three tax warrants on Murphy's start-up web business "Small World Software, Inc," according to Susan Burns, a spokeswoman for the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance. Records show the company's $20,805.25 sales tax lien was eventually paid -- several months late -- but $298.50 in corporate taxes and $446.85 in withholding taxes were still unpaid as of Thursday afternoon.

Murphy responded that he sold the company, along with the debt, in 1998 before the warrants were issued. The tax liens, he said, transferred to the new ownership. When asked, Murphy said he would try to find documentation proving that claim.

"It's like if you sold your house," Murphy said, "and the person who bought it didn't pay the property taxes the next month."

The NRCC has also raised questions about a line that disappeared from Murphy's biography on the website of his employer, Advantage Capital Partners of Glens Falls. The line described another web start-up, Baazee.com, which Murphy founded as an Indian version of eBay -- then sold to eBay. The line vanished when Murphy became a candidate.

On Monday, Murphy told CBS 6 that he removed the line to make way for items more pertinent to his campaign. However, no lines were added; that one was simply subtracted. Asked about it again on Thursday, Murphy said, "I'm not trying to hide anything about any companies."

DEFLATING THE GOLDEN PARACHUTES

Murphy said Thursday he supports President Barack Obama's plan to cap executive compensation at financial institutions receiving bailout money. A venture capitalist and former Wall Street man himself, Murphy said top executives at those firms should earn no more than $500,000 per year. He called on Tedisco to support the Obama plan.

Tedisco spokesman Fitzpatrick responded once again with a swipe at Murphy.

"If Wall Street executive Scott Murphy is really interested in curtailing the excesses of CEOs, he might want to start by paying his taxes," Fitzpatrick said. "[Murphy] is part of a growing list of Democrats in Washington with tax troubles."

SETTING A DATE

Governor David Paterson has not yet called for the special election. His office issued a statement late Thursday, saying Paterson is working with the candidates, good government groups, and the State Board of Elections to choose a date.

"While it is Governor Paterson's intention to have the election as soon as possible, it is also incumbent on the Governor's Office to select a date that will give as many people as possible the opportunity to vote while not disrupting the March 18 village elections and comply with election law," Paterson spokesman Morgan Hook said.

Once Paterson calls for an election, the candidates will be required to submit official certificates of nomination. The vote will take place 30 - 40 days following the proclamation.

Eric Sundwall, an information technology consultant from Kinderhook, is reportedly running as the Libertarian candidate.