Press Releases: Lazio

Statement: Rick Lazio on Steve Levy's Endorsement

Fri, 30 Jul 2010 00:00:00 EDT

New York, NY - Rick Lazio, the Republican and Conservative candidate for Governor, issued the following statement today in reaction to receiving the endorsement of Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy:

Rick Lazio said, "I am grateful for Steve Levy’s endorsement today. Like me, Steve has dealt first-hand with the consequences of the Albany political machine which is stifling the economy of our state. I am pleased to have Steve Levy’s support for my agenda of reduced spending, a balanced budget, less taxes and more jobs for the people of New York."

Statement: "Cuomo's Albany-Style Self-Promotion Supersedes His Legal Priorities"

Fri, 30 Jul 2010 00:00:00 EDT

New York, NY - In response to this morning’s Wall Street Journal story on Andrew Cuomo’s office operations, Republican and Conservative candidate Rick Lazio issued the following statement:

Rick Lazio said, “In an appalling, transparent act straight out of Albany, Andrew Cuomo went in front of the cameras to announce that he had served subpoenas which had not even been served, one of the most basic functions of an Attorney General’s office. Governing by press announcements ahead of fulfilling one’s public duty reminds New Yorkers of what was wrong with Eliot Spitzer. In Andy’s world in Albany all that matters is political ambition.”

Wall Street Journal: MetLife Hasn't Received Cuomo Subpoena, CEO Says
7/30/10
By Erik Holm
http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20100730-709865.html

NEW YORK (Dow Jones)--MetLife Inc. (MET) Chief Executive Robert Henrikson said his firm hadn't yet received a subpoena announced by New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo Thursday.

Cuomo said he'd sent subpoenas to MetLife and Prudential Financial Inc. (PRU) as part of what his office called a "major fraud investigation" into how life insurers make payouts to policy beneficiaries.

Cuomo attacked the industry's practice of retaining funds until the beneficiaries request the money, and paying yields akin to a money-market account. By keeping the money, insurers are able to earn a higher return on the funds than they pay out in interest.

The accounts have been around for at least two decades, and state insurance regulators--who monitor and regulate the practice--say they can serve as a useful option for consumers too bereft to make immediate financial decisions.

"Even though we've read in the press, just like everyone else, about the subpoena activity, we haven't been served with anything or talked with anybody from the attorney general's office," Henrikson said on a previously scheduled conference call with analysts and investors Friday. Because the firm hadn't received the subpoena, he said he couldn't comment on the investigation.
Cuomo said Thursday the practice results in "millions of secret profits" for life insurers. He announced the probe after Bloomberg ran a story on the practice that focused partly on families of deceased U.S. soldiers.

"We strongly disagree with the misleading and incorrect statements--certainly the initial statements--coming from the press," Henrikson said. But he thanked the analysts on the call for "clarifying" the description of the accounts.

Among them was Alan Devlin, an insurance analyst with Atlantic Equities in London, who called the Cuomo probe a "a gross overreaction and a purely political move."

VIDEO: Waiting

Fri, 30 Jul 2010 00:00:00 EDT

On July 7, 2010 Rick Lazio requested that Andrew Cuomo launch an investigation into the funding of the proposed 13-story, $100 million, Cordoba Mosque. Andrew Cuomo refused to launch an investigation.

On July 27, 2010 Rick challenged Andrew Cuomo to defend his position on the Cordoba Mosque in a public debate.

There has been no response.

Attorney General Cuomo, the people of New York await your response.

Lazio Challenges Cuomo to Defend His Position on Cordoba Mosque Initiative in Public Debate

Tue, 27 Jul 2010 00:00:00 EDT

New York, NY - Rick Lazio, the Republican and Conservative Candidate for Governor, sent a letter to Andrew Cuomo today challenging him to debate the funding issues of the Cordoba Mosque at Ground Zero; issues well within Andrew Cuomo's jurisdiction as Attorney General:

The Honorable Andrew Cuomo
Office of the Attorney General
The Capitol
Albany, NY 12224-0341

Dear Attorney General Cuomo:

I understand that there will be plenty of time for us to debate the important issues of concern to the citizens of New York in the fall. But the time to debate the Cordoba Mosque proposed to be built on the sacred land at Ground Zero is now.

Many questions about the funding for this project have surfaced in the press in recent weeks; including the funding for the project itself and the sourced funding for the land and building donation. However obscured and concealed these funding trails are, the people of New York have a right to know the identity of all the figures behind the project given many of their inflammatory statements by the public faces of the project.

As Attorney General, it falls under your jurisdiction to oversee the funding sources of “charitable” organizations such as the Cordoba Initiative. Many are wondering how the proprietors of this project came into so much funding so quickly for a project which is dividing the community.

You have called those of us who oppose building this mosque racists and bigots. You should be ashamed of yourself.

To get real answers I suggest that we debate this issue in an open forum to be covered by the news media.

Your position on this issue is so wrong and I recognize you may not want to defend it but all the same I am asking you to do just that. I am sending a copy of this request for debate to all television stations and all newspapers in New York. I believe the debate should be held where the audience can watch and respond as well as ask questions of us.

I hope you will respond positively to my request for the debate.

Sincerely,
Rick Lazio

VIDEO: Strategy Session

Sat, 24 Jul 2010 00:00:00 EDT

Greetings!

In this week’s Strategy Session, Team Lazio Campaign Manager Kevin Fullington discusses Rick’s position on the proposed Cordoba Mosque. With the help of his dry erase board, Kevin then proceeds to deconstruct the motivation behind Andrew Cuomo’s RV tour of New York.

VIDEO: Where Does It Go?

Thu, 22 Jul 2010 00:00:00 EDT

With all the money flowing into Andrew Cuomo's campaign from the special interests, one can't help but wonder: where does it go?

Statement: Rick Lazio on New York's Deficit

Mon, 19 Jul 2010 00:00:00 EDT

New York, NY - Rick Lazio, the Republican and Conservative Candidate for Governor, issued the following statement today in reaction to news that New York's general fund ended the 2nd fiscal quarter $87.1 million in the red:

Rick Lazio said, “Andrew Cuomo will be unable to fix New York's chronic budget gap because he is too tied to the special interests who helped create this deficit in the first place. I am the only candidate in this race with a plan to put the state’s finances back on track and reduce the tax burden on hard-working New Yorkers.”

VIDEO: It's Our Turn

Wed, 14 Jul 2010 00:00:00 EDT

Now it is our turn. Will you stand with Rick and join his effort to reject the Special Interest Government in Albany and help him give the people of New York control of their destiny?

A Memo to Jay Jacobs

Tue, 13 Jul 2010 00:00:00 EDT

“Both Mr. Cuomo and Gov. Eliot Spitzer released tax information on Friday, though Mr. Cuomo released only a preliminary estimate, while the governor's staff allowed reporters to review his tax return."
-New York Times 6/3/2006

Memorandum:
July 13, 2010
To: Jay Jacobs - NY State Democratic Spokesman Instead of Charlie “Special Interest” King
From: Barney Keller, Press Secretary, Lazio 2010
RE: Accurate Reporting & Writing 101

As a student I was always taught to accurately footnote and index my papers. As a professional dealing with the New York media I would be seen as the exact opposite if I misrepresented an article from a reputable media outlet. Within the past day, sir, you have not only forged news copy, but still do not understand what makes up a full disclosure of a tax filing. Here is what it is not:

-An accountant explains what is in a tax filing, but the actual return is not disclosed.
-A staff briefing telling reporters what is in a tax filing, but the actual return is not disclosed.
-“Preliminary estimates" because Andrew Cuomo sought an extension hoping the press would forget the story later in a given year, but the actual return is not disclosed.
-Anything that is “releasable information” as a substitute for the return itself, while the actual return is not disclosed.

A full disclosure is the entire tax filing, cover to cover. With respect to Rick Lazio's call to Andrew Cuomo yesterday, it was for full disclosure for the past ten years for both Andrew Cuomo and Bob Duffy, cover-to-cover, no exceptions. For the record, Rick Lazio has told the press (Albany Times-Union, 2/10/2010) what he made for the past two years, but I am sure Andrew Cuomo would agree that is not the release of an actual return.

In conclusion I wanted to thank you for mentioning the articles in your recent press release and feel it is time to remind the people of New York of the ugly pressure Andrew Cuomo was subjected to in previous election cycles to release his returns by actually giving the press the actual titles of the article you cited:

YOUR DESCRIPTION: June 3, 2006: NY Times Reports Andrew Cuomo Makes Last 14 Years Of Tax Returns Available. (NY Times, 6/3/06, Click)

Actual title of NY Times Article: “Cuomo, Under Pressure, Releases 14 Years of Tax Returns”

Quote from actual article: “After relentless pressure from rival candidates for attorney general, Andrew M. Cuomo released 14 years of personal tax returns yesterday that showed substantial gains in his income in the recent past.”

Note: In November of 2006, the New York Daily News reported: “Andrew Cuomo, who filed for an extension on his taxes in April, refused to disclose the returns he filed last month, arguing he has already released "estimated" returns that showed he earned $710,000”: Fighting until the bitter end, Jeanine Pirro demanded yesterday that her Democratic rival for state attorney general release his 2005 tax returns. But front-runner Andrew Cuomo, who filed for an extension on his taxes in April, refused to disclose the returns he filed last month, arguing he has already released "estimated" returns that showed he earned $710,000. (New York Daily News,11/7/06)

In November of 2006 there was an Associated Press headline that read: “Cuomo reverses himself, won't make his taxes public” (AP, 11/6/06)

The actual AP article from November of 2006 reads: "Andrew Cuomo, who is running for attorney general on a platform that includes cleaning up Albany, won't make his 2005 tax return public as his campaign had promised": Andrew Cuomo, who is running for attorney general on a platform that includes cleaning up Albany, won't make his 2005 tax return public as his campaign had promised, a spokesman said Monday. In April, the former federal housing secretary filed for an extension with the Internal Revenue Service. An aide to Cuomo, John Del Cecato, said at the time that Cuomo would make his taxes public when they were ready. Cuomo, a Democrat, filed his return last month, the New York Post reported Sunday. Spokesman Evan Thies said Monday that Cuomo would not make the return public. Cuomo released estimates of his taxes in June. Cuomo spokeswoman Wendy Katz said the return Cuomo filed in October was identical to the information he released in June. He also released his returns from the previous 13 years. (AP, 11/6/06)

More from a November 2006 New York Post Article: “Andrew Cuomo has refused to release his latest tax filings - even as he continues to criticize his GOP opponent for state attorney general, Jeanine Pirro, for not releasing hers from 14 years ago.”: Andrew Cuomo has refused to release his latest tax filings - even as he continues to criticize his GOP opponent for state attorney general, Jeanine Pirro, for not releasing hers from 14 years ago. "Andrew Cuomo is dishonest and hypocritical," Pirro spokesman John Gallagher said when told by The Post of the Democrat's refusal to make public his federal 2005 filing. Cuomo had filed in April for a six-month extension on his taxes. His spokeswoman said he filed his taxes last month. But when The Post asked this week to review the filings, his office would not. (New York Post, 11/5/06)

Also, in October, 2006, Cuomo attacked Jeanine Pirro on the tax return issue: “Andrew Cuomo yesterday took off the gloves in his second debate with Jeanine Pirro, mocking her husband's tax fraud-conviction and detailing pending investigations against her. "I released my taxes . . . I wish she'd release her taxes. I understand why she doesn't,": Andrew Cuomo yesterday took off the gloves in his second debate with Jeanine Pirro, mocking her husband's tax fraud-conviction and detailing pending investigations against her. "I released my taxes . . . I wish she'd release her taxes. I understand why she doesn't," Cuomo said in countering one of Pirro's attacks during yesterday's one-hour attorney-general face-off at the studios of WXXI public television in Rochester. (New York Post, 10/18/06)

YOUR DESCRIPTION: April 14, 2007: NY Times Reports Andrew Cuomo Makes Tax Returns Available (NY Times, 4/14/07, Click)

Actual title of NY Times Article: “Earnings Up For Cuomo And Spitzer In Last Year”

Quote from actual article: “Both Mr. Cuomo and Gov. Eliot Spitzer released tax information on Friday, though Mr. Cuomo released only a preliminary estimate, while the governor's staff allowed reporters to review his tax return. Mr. Cuomo, 49, is filing for an extension to allow more time for a hedge fund he has invested in, EnTrust Capital Partners, to report its results. Mr. Cuomo's unusual move to invest campaign funds with EnTrust was also the subject of scrutiny during the campaign.”

YOUR DESCRIPTION: April 15, 2008: NY Times Reports Andrew Cuomo Makes Tax Returns Available (NY Times, Click)

Actual title of NY Times Article: “Tax Data Of 3 Officials Show More Than Income”

Quote from actual article: “Mr. Paterson and Mr. DiNapoli allowed reporters to examine their returns. Mr. Cuomo's office allowed reporters to review a preliminary summary prepared by his accountants.”

YOUR DESCRIPTION: April 14, 2009: AP Reports Andrew Cuomo Makes Tax Returns Available (AP, 4/14/10, Click)

Actual title of AP Article: “Cuomo discloses income, taxes.”

Quote from actual article: “Preliminary data show New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo had $398,000 in taxable state income in 2008, and paid $84,000 in federal taxes and $43,000 in state and city taxes. Cuomo, who released the information Tuesday, has sought an extension beyond Wednesday's deadline for filing.”

YOUR DESCRIPTION: April 15, 2010: New York Post reports Andrew Cuomo Makes Tax Returns Available (NY Post, 4/15/10, Click)

Actual title of New York Post Article: “GOV'S WIFE GOT 40% PAY RAISE”

The only mention of Andrew Cuomo in the actual article: “Meanwhile, Attorney General Andrew Cuomo earned $144,000 in 2009. In 2008, he reported $398,000.”

VIDEO: What's Missing?

Mon, 12 Jul 2010 00:00:00 EDT

In "What's Missing?", we at Team Lazio take a deeper look into Andrew Cuomo's supposedly comprehensive policy book.

Many words appear numerous times in Andrew's book, but there are some that are conspicuously absent.