Gov. Paterson Gives $150 in Charity

1st\NW Quadrant The Approval Matrix

By The Poughkeepsie Journal

Gov. David Paterson's contributions to charity last year - only $150 - falls far short of what most people give away...

But Paterson gave away more than that in another way: He donated more than $10,000 from his campaign account as lieutenant governor to nonprofit groups, such as a church in New York City and a group that helps disabled children in Israel.

Some good-government groups derided the move as another indication of the problems with the state's loose campaign-finance laws, which has allowed elected officials to dip into their campaign accounts rather than pay for things themselves.

"It's not appropriate use of campaign dollars," said Barbara Bartoletti, legislative director for the state League of Women Voters. "They should be used to better inform voters about your message. And that is certainly not what he is doing."

Paterson and his wife, Michelle Paige Paterson, earned $269,815 in 2007, yet claimed giving only $150 to charity, a donation of used clothing to the Salvation Army, according to his tax returns
released ...