My Super Bowl XLII Predictions

Eli Manning is coming into his own and has made very few mistakes in the playoffs. The New York Giants have shown they can compete against the New England Patriots and almost defeated them. The Giants are ready to upset the Patriots in a big win by 3 points on Super Bowl Day. It’s destined to be! It’s going to be a victory for the New York Giants!

We Don't Need a Taj Mahal on the Thruway

There's so much to say this week, that I'm doing a double-shot of "Tedisco in 60." This episode is on the need to cut Thruway tolls, just as the Comptroller suggests.

Truth in Advertising???

The Governor is in Dutchess County today on a so-called “Bringing the Budget Home'' tour. Considering Spitzer’s proposed budget contains $2 billion in tax and fee increases that will cost the average family $473.00, perhaps the Governor should have some truth in advertising and be promoting this as the "Causing You to Sell Your Home Tour" or "Squeezing the New York Middle Class Homeowner Tour.”

By the way, the cartoon above is from http://www.hightaxnewyork.com/.

My Appearance on WGY

I was on WGY today and spoke with Al Roney to discuss the proposed Thruway toll hike. Please click here:

http://a1135.g.akamai.net/f/1135/18227/1h/cchannel.download.akamai.com/18227/podcast/ALBANY-NY/WGY-AM/1-28TEDISCO.mp3?CPROG=PCAST&MARKET=ALBANY-NY&NG_FORMAT=newstalk&SITE_ID=1155&STATION_ID=WGY-AM&PCAST_AUTHOR=WGY&PCAST_CAT=news&PCAST_TITLE=Don_Weeks_On-Demand.

Governor Rejects Toll Increases

I am happy to see that today the Governor joined me and my Assembly Republican colleagues in rejecting any proposed Thruway toll increases. New Yorkers can’t continue to be forced to pay for higher tolls, higher gas prices and higher property taxes. It’s obvious that this should be the end of the road for this costly toll hike.

Comptroller’s Audit Echoes My Calls for Thruway Authority To Stop Toll Hike

The New York State comptroller’s audit of the Thruway Authority revealed precisely what I have been saying since last fall – there is no justification for an increase in Thruway tolls. The comptroller is urging the agency to call off the increase. He says the Thruway is taking the easy way out and he'd like to see the agency implement more cost cutting programs.

New Yorkers are already paying some of the highest property taxes in the nation. They cannot afford the Thruway Authority’s proposed 10 percent toll hike on top of its earlier toll increase that just went into effect a few weeks ago.

Another Spitzer Plan Catering to Illegals

In his 2008-09 Executive Budget, Governor Spitzer has proposed a tax on illegal drug sales. His legislation would require tax stamps to be placed on illegal drug packages, much like those currently affixed to cigarette packages.

The difference: cigarettes are legal. What kind of mixed message is the Governor sending with this proposal? Does he expect law-breaking drug dealers to obey this provision? My question to Mr. Spitzer is, “what’s next, taxing prostitution?

According to the New York Post’s Ken Lovett, “Experience in other states shows that stamp collectors, not drug dealers, are the ones purchasing the tax stamps”.

The governor says it's not a step toward legalizing illicit drugs. But if he wants to make the bad guys pay more he should increase the fines they pay -- not legitimize their illegal activity by creating a new state tax office.

Please support my Conference’s efforts to prevent this ridiculous measure from becoming law. It is wrong for New York State.