While the Republicans are busy pointing out questions over whether or not Scott Murphy paid his taxes, Democrats are countering by looking into what NY 20th Congressional District candidate Jim Tedisco did with some of the taxpayer dollars he received. At the center of the questions is a matter of more than $20,000 the Assemblyman received for gas and oil change expenses for his commute to work.

After Years of Gaming the System, Will Tedisco Finally Reimburse Taxpayers Over $21,000 for his 20 Minute Car Ride?

Now that Albany politician Jim Tedisco has formally launched his congressional campaign in New York’s 20th Congressional District, Tedisco owes voters an explanation as to why he billed them $21,343 in oil and gas receipts for his taxpayer funded vehicle, despite just a 20-minute car ride away to the state capitol from his Schenectady home in the 21st Congressional District.

At issue is not only the total charges for the 17 mile ride, but a few specific payments he received.

On June 29, 2001, a total of $413.80 was charged for oil and gas in three separate charges.

On December 11, 2001, a total of $628.46 was charged in five separate charges. [New York State Assembly, Expenditure Reports, 1996-2008]

The questions also serve as a platform for Tedisco’s Democratic opponents to point out that Tedisco lists his residence in Schenectady, New York. A quick look at Google Maps will show you that Schenectady lies in the Empire State’s 21st Congressional District, while Tedisco is campaigning to represent the 20th. (A map of the 20th district is available here for comparison.) Of course, in New York, residency in the district is not a legal requirement for Congressmen, as they only have to be residents of the State. (And as we learned from Hillary Clinton in 2000, you only have to live here for a month to file.) Still, opponents will try to use that as a wedge against the candidate in the upcoming contest.

Previous 20th CD Coverage:

Scott Murphy’s Tax Issues
Tedisco – Murphy Gun Control Debate?
NY 20th: Meet the Candidates