Did $300,000 in donations lead to $637,000,000 in sales?
Andrew Harris
As the New York gubernatorial race heats up, local Republicans are hot on incumbent Governor Kathy Hochol. The office of Corning-based state legislator Phil Parmesano issued the following statement today:
Congressman Phil Palmesano (R-R, I-Corning) participated in a pay-to-play scheme involving Gov. Kathy Hochol’s $637 million taxpayer-funded payment to one of her top campaign donors. I have renewed my request for an immediate investigation into the allegations. Parmesano is a member of the Congressional Minority Board of Revenue commissioners who first called for an investigation into the scheme’s potential payoffs, including the purchase of his expensive COVID test kits, when it was first reported more than three months ago. He was the only member of the group.
“In Albany, it is often said that absolute power corrupts utterly. “New Yorkers have lost faith in officials statewide, but worse, taxpayers no longer pay the price for political kickbacks and unethical behavior.” We can’t afford it.This is not only unethical, it’s a complete abuse of taxpayer money.It’s time to stop the corruption and an investigation must begin immediately.”
As first reported in Albany’s The Times Union, New Jersey-based company Digital Gadgets, LLC has sold its Hochul office to purchase COVID tests that other companies were offering for an average of $5. paid $637 million, averaging $12.25 per test. California paid 45% less for the same test. New York is reported to have saved taxpayers $286 million at California tax rates. Additionally, governors were able to use “emergency powers” invoked during the pandemic to spend taxpayers’ money at will without approval from state comptrollers as they normally would, so they could contract without oversight or competitive bidding. was awarded.
The deal was awarded to Digital Gadgets, LLC after Charlie Tebele, owner of Digital Gadgets, LLC, held an in-person fundraiser for the governor and donated $300,000 to her campaign. She also rewarded Tiber by giving her son a job in her campaign.
Parmesano and members of the Congressional Minority Conference have repeatedly called on colleagues across the aisle in the State Attorney General’s Office and the Congressional Inquiry and Ways and Means Commission to convene a hearing or an investigation. But they haven’t taken any action. “
Ho-chul’s opponent in the gubernatorial race, Rep. Lee Zeldin, has gained support in the polls in recent weeks. In a race that many sought Ho-chul months ago, many aren’t in favor of guessing those instincts: his RealClearPolitics, which provides the average of many leading polls. com, Hochul leads by just over six points behind him.
Zeldin currently leads Hochul by 3 points at Hornel Sun in northern Steuben County. It’s never too late to vote in the weekly polls that run until Friday. If you haven’t voted yet, do so today in the polls provided by Pekarek Law Group.
