Happy Birthday Eliot

ALBANY, NY (04/12/2007)(readMedia)-- Urging him to lead by example, New York Republican State Committee Chairman Joseph N. Mondello called on Governor Eliot Spitzer to cancel his June 7th birthday celebration fundraiser since it "makes a mockery of the Governor's self-imposed campaign finance limitations."

"Eliot Spitzer is proving, once again, that he's the reform governor by day and the hard nosed politician by night," Chairman Mondello declared. "Reform minded New Yorkers were shocked to learn that Spitzer plans to circumvent his much touted, self-imposed campaign contribution limit of $10,000 per individual by offering special perks to big dollar contributors who commit to steering $100,000 or $50,000 from friends and associates to the governor's birthday celebration fundraiser."

News reports that the Spitzer campaign committee is offering six figure campaign fundraisers a chance to have a private dinner with the governor as well as being a part of a "VIP reception" at the birthday celebration being headlined by jazz legend Wynton Marsalis prompted Chairman Mondello to issue his call that the Governor cancel the event.

Mondello declared: "If he wants to send a message that he's serious about curtailing the influence of big money contributors in state politics, Governor Spitzer will do the right thing and cancel this event immediately. For Governor Spitzer to say on the one hand that he is limiting contributions to his campaign fund to $10,000 per person and then on the other hand for him to promise 'VIP' treatment and a special private dinner with him to contributors who steer big dollars to his re-election fund in $100,000 and $50,000 chunks is the height of hypocrisy.

"New Yorkers have had enough of people in politics saying 'Do as I say, not as I do.' If Governor Spitzer goes ahead with this big dollar fund raising scheme he's sending a clear message to New Yorkers that when it comes to reform he's all talk and no action.

"It's day 102, nothing's changed," Mondello concluded.

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