Paterson Releases Tax Returns
Gov. David Paterson increased his charitable contributions by more than $11,000 in 2008, but he didn’t give anything to the seven charities recommended on state tax forms, according to his tax returns released Tuesday.
Records show that he bypassed contributions on his state tax forms, such as giving to the Breast Cancer Research and Education Fund and the National 9/11 Memorial.
But the Democratic governor’s aides pointed out that Paterson gave $11,833 to charities in 2008, including roughly $10,000 to a variety of organizations, including several associations for the blind. The governor is legally blind.
The increase in charitable contributions comes after Paterson was criticized last year for only giving $150 to charity in 2007, a donation of clothing to the Salvation Army. Last year, his tax filings were released soon after he took over as governor after Eliot Spitzer resigned.
The median charitable contributions for a U.S. household making more than $200,000 is $15,500, according to the Giving USA Foundation.
Paterson’s tax returns show that he and his wife, Michelle Paige Paterson, earned $287,567 in taxable income in 2008.
Paterson earned $169,969 as governor, about $10,000 less than the full governor’s salary of $179,000 because he wasn’t governor for the full year. Paige Paterson earned $122,899 as an executive with Emblem Health Service Co. in Manhattan. She also received $9,000 through work at the National Urban Tech Center in Manhattan.
Attorney General Andrew Cuomo reported an adjusted gross income of $443,100, which includes his $145,900 income as attorney general and $223,500 in capital gains from investments.
Cuomo, who received an extension to file his taxes because of his investments, made $20,000 in charitable contributions, according to documents provided by his office.
Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli released his tax records Monday, reporting $152,613 in income last year. He earned $151,500 as comptroller and gave $3,688 in donations.
While not required by law, statewide elected officials customarily release their tax filings to the media. Yet state legislative leaders do not provide their tax information.
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Might be VERY interesting if our NY State lawmakers released their tax returns. We might find that some of them, live off of their campaign contributions that they give to themselves !
Maybe this should be a law that they need to make them public. Wonder if they can be FOIL-ed?????
We have a Comptroller who admittedly earned $1100 from interest and investments last year. Read into that whatever you like, class.
Andrew made himself a tidy $443,000. Just months ago, he stated that his two daughters needed cars and vacations, but he couldn’t afford to help them because he has devoted his life to ill-remunerated public service. And Mommy is a Kennedy, who also presumably cannot afford to get the kids a couple of beaters.
And the Gov, who was “blind,” too in ‘07 shoveled out $150 to charity. Suddenly, under scrutiny and looking for another term…. Well, let’s all just get along, shall we?
Live off their campaign contributions? Ahem. And ahem again.
the governor may be looking for another term but
here is the prediction..he will bow out in favor
of andrew cuomo..he will get a nice cushy state job
in return and cuomo will be the democratic nominee
and in fact the governor unless giuliani decides to
run….which is doubtful by all accounts at this point
in time
It all goes without saying. Problem is, some of the old Apollo Theater crowd will have to be paid off, which should not be a problem and has indeed always been de rigeur.