Empire Information Services: News Story
    SPITZER SUIT AGAINST FORMER NYSE CHAIRMAN: A PUBLIC SERVICE, OR A PUBLIC RELATIONS SQUANDER?

    Medicaid Fraud on Back Burner as Taxpayers Fund Glitzy, Costly, Multi-year Investigation

    ALBANY, NY — (08/17/2006; 1131)(EIS) — Republican and Conservative candidate for governor John Faso today called on Attorney General Eliot Spitzer to disclose how much his suit against former NYSE Chairman Richard Grasso is costing taxpayers in attorney time, consulting fees for compensation experts, and all other resources spent on the case. Faso noted that even if the suit is successful, any money obtained would be given to the former owners of the Stock Exchange, which has since converted from a non profit to a public company, not to taxpayers or shareholders of companies listed on the Exchange.

    “From day one, this whole case has been more of a taxpayer-funded public relations campaign for Mr. Spitzer than a lawsuit on behalf of the public interest,” said Faso. “Taxpayers won’t see a dime from this headline-grabber, but they will pay for years of legal maneuvering and litigation by the Attorney General’s office.”

    Faso noted that although Spitzer unveiled his action to great fanfare at a press conference in May of 2004, many legal experts agree that it will be very difficult for Spitzer to prove that either of the men broke the law. Faso also said that the case is drawing resources from other issues that may be less sensational, but more important to taxpayers, like prosecuting Medicaid fraud.

    “Taxpayers are funding a questionable case — a debacle, really — and the only ones that can benefit are Mr. Spitzer and the Stock Exchange, not the taxpayers,” said Faso. “Meanwhile, Mr. Spitzer has recovered only a pittance from Medicaid fraud — a main reason why property taxes are so high. Our families and businesses would have been far better served if he had focused his zeal on Medicaid fraud, which, obviously, he hasn’t.”

Spitzers whole term in office has been a taxpayer-funded public relations campaign for Mr. Spitzer… Like I have said over and over again, he has not gone after any corruption in politics. Yet most say there is 40% fraud in the Medicaid program, who cares it’s only taxpayers money.