Thank you, NY Times, for updating us on the activities of George Elmer Pataki. Although Pataki has been out of politics, he still spent $1.4 million from his political action committee on "Broadway theater tickets, gatherings at the Yale Club and payments to political loyalists and advisers."
Now, Pataki's PAC was formed in Virginia, which has, according to the NY Times, "no limits on contributions" and a "light regulatory touch in terms of spending." A spokesman says the expenses were justified since the three-term governor is "set to resume a more visible role in the national discussion" and had to "retain the political infrastructure and networking necessary to be a relevant and effective voice." Does anyone know who has been waiting for Pataki to be more visible? Just asking - and maybe we should all be hiding.
More: Wife Libby Pataki's former chief of staff received $48,000 last year, though her Linkedin profile indicates she's working for Pataki's consulting firm. Virginia state elections law requires to PACs to itemize expenses, but Pataki's only listed American Express for expenses. PAC money was used to maintain offices in Peekskill and Manhattan; the Manhattan office was "rented for a time from...a longtime adviser and fund-raiser, who also received $60,500."
Someone who worked for Pataki after he decided not to run for president, Tom McGinley, described the kind of networking he planned for Pataki, "Some were like birthdays, social gatherings. There were so many of them, I can’t remember what they were.” For more Pataki fun, read how $3 million was spent on a museum that never materialized, how his 2006 budget didn't really mention NYC, the Freedom Tower re-design (remember when he said it would be done by 2008?), and evicting the International Freedom Center from Ground Zero.
