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James Tedisco
RTo be claimed
Former Chair, Assembly Minority Task Force on Missing Children, New York State Assembly
Former Member, Banks Committee, New York State Assembly
Former Member, Codes Committee, New York State Senate
Former Member, Crime Victims, Crime and Correction Committee, New York State Senate
Former Member, Economic Development, Job Creation, Commerce and Industry Committee, New York State Assembly
Former Member, Elections Committee, New York State Senate
Former Member, Environmental Conservation Committee, New York State Senate
Former Member, Health Committee, New York State Senate
Former Member, Libraries Committee, New York State Senate
Former Member, Racing and Wagering Committee, New York State Assembly
Former Member, Rules Committee, New York State Assembly
Former Chair, Social Services Committee, New York State Senate
Member, Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Committee
Member, Banks Committee
Member, Budget and Revenues Committee
Ranking Member, Children and Families Committee
Ranking Member, Consumer Protection Committee
Ranking Member, Domestic Animal Welfare Committee
Member, Labor Committee
Member, Social Services Committee
— Pets (include names):
1. Abortions should always be legally available.
- No Answer
2. Abortions should be legally available when the procedure is completed within the first trimester of pregnancy.
- No Answer
3. Abortions should be legal only when the pregnancy resulted from incest, rape, or when the life of the woman is endangered.
- No Answer
4. Abortions should be legal only when the life of the woman is endangered.
- No Answer
5. Abortions should always be illegal.
- No Answer
6. Abortions should be limited by mandatory waiting periods.
- X
7. Abortions should be limited by parental notification requirements for girls under 18.
- X
8. Should New York government funding be provided to clinics and medical facilities that provide abortion services?
- No
1. The New York government should prosecute cases of discrimination in the public and private sectors.
- X
2. The New York government should provide no affirmative action programs.
- No Answer
3. Do you believe that the New York government should recognize same-sex marriages?
- No
4. Do you believe that sexual orientation should be added to New York's anti-discrimination laws?
- No
1. Increase state funding for programs to prevent teen pregnancy.
- X
2. Provide tax credits for businesses that provide child care for their employees.
- X
3. Deny or suspend state-issued permits and licenses to parents who are delinquent in paying court-ordered child support.
- X
1. Increase state funds for construction of state prisons and for hiring of additional prison staff.
- X
2. Expand and promote "community policing" programs.
- X
3. Support "truth in sentencing" for violent criminals so they serve their full sentences with no chance of parole.
- X
4. Expand the use of the death penalty for additional circumstances relating to murder.
- X
5. Oppose the death penalty.
- No Answer
6. Implement penalties other than incarceration for certain non-violent offenders.
- No Answer
7. Require mandatory life sentences for third-time, violent felons.
- X
8. Inform communities when a convicted sex offender moves into the community.
- X
9. Increase state funds for programs which rehabilitate and educate inmates during and after their prison sentences.
- No Answer
10. Decriminalize the possession and private use of certain illegal drugs such as marijuana.
- No Answer
11. Strengthen penalties and sentences associated with drug-related crimes.
- X
12. Implement chain gangs in which prison inmates work together in chained work groups.
- X
13. Contract with private sector firms to manage state prisons.
- No Answer
1. Prosecute juveniles who commit murder or other serious, violent crimes as adults.
- X
2. Provide state funding for military-style "boot camps" for juvenile first-time felons.
- X
3. Increase state funding for local community centers and other social agencies in areas with at-risk youth.
- X
4. Support state government funding of programs for at-risk youth such as guaranteed college loans and job training and placement.
- No Answer
5. Support legislation to enable teachers to expel violent or disruptive students from classrooms for up to ten days.
- X
1. Increase state funds for improving the state's transportation system, including major roadways, railways and airports.
- X
2. Provide low interest loans and tax credits for expanding, start-up, or relocating businesses.
- X
3. Expand legalized gambling (e.g. state lottery, casino gambling).
- No Answer
4. Reduce state government regulations on the private sector.
- X
5. Remove state government controls or caps from wages, prices, rents, profits, production and interest rates.
- No Answer
6. Support limits on cash damages in lawsuits against businesses and professionals for product liability or malpractice.
- No Answer
7. Increase state funding for programs to re-train unemployed workers.
- X
8. Limit workers' compensation awards in order to lower businesses' insurance costs.
- No Answer
9. Lower workers' compensation insurance rates for businesses with good safety records.
- X
1. Increase state funds for professional development and salaries of public school faculty.
- No Answer
2. Endorse teacher-led voluntary school prayer in public schools.
- No Answer
3. Encourage private or corporate investment in certain public school programs.
- No Answer
4. Provide parents with state-funded vouchers to send their children to any participating school (public, private, religious, technical).
- No Answer
5. Implement charter schools where teachers and other professionals receive state authorization and funding to establish new schools.
- No Answer
6. Require the use of state-wide achievement standards for all state public schools.
- X
7. Emphasize local control of education as long as the school district meets state health and safety standards.
- X
8. Support sex education programs which stress abstinence.
- X
9. Support sex education programs which stress safe sexual practices.
- No Answer
10. Support "school choice" which allows parents to choose which public school their child(ren) should attend.
- No Answer
11. Change New York City's Board of Education from being appointed by the mayor to direct election by voters.
- No Answer
12. Support the proposal to convert the New York City school system to a mayoral agency under the direct control of City Hall.
- No Answer
13. Require that students in state and city colleges maintain a "C" average in order to receive state tuition aid.
- X
14. Should state lottery revenues be used as a partial source of funding for local schools?
- Yes
1. Enact tougher environmental standards to encourage the sale of cleaner burning fuels throughout New York.
- No Answer
2. Support "self-audit" legislation which creates incentives for polluting industries to audit themselves and clean up pollution.
- No Answer
3. Require a cost/benefit analysis be completed on the economic impact of proposed environmental regulations before they are implemented.
- No Answer
4. Require the state to reimburse citizens when state-sponsored environmental regulations limit the use of privately owned land.
- No Answer
5. Continue to provide funding for recycling programs in New York.
- X
6. Request flexibility from the federal government in enforcing and funding federal environmental regulations.
- No Answer
7. Suspend New York's participation in unfunded, federally mandated environmental protection legislation.
- No Answer
8. Maintain minimum environmental quality as mandated by current federal regulations.
- X
9. Use New York State's Environmental Protection Fund to clean up pollution created by New York State agencies.
- No Answer
1. State Senators
- No
2. State Representatives
- No
3. Governor
- No
4. Do you support amending the U.S. Constitution to require an annual balanced federal budget?
- Yes
5. Do you support requiring limits on individual contributions to state legislative candidates?
- Yes
6. Do you support requiring limits on PAC contributions to state legislative candidates?
- Yes
7. Do you support requiring limits on corporate contributions to state legislative candidates?
- Yes
8. Do you support requiring full and timely disclosure of campaign finance information?
- Yes
9. Do you support imposing spending limits on state level political campaigns?
- Yes
10. Do you support partial funding from state taxes for state level political campaigns?
- No
11. Do you support requiring lobbyists to disclose all gifts of food or drinks to individual lawmakers?
- Yes
12. Should New York state funds be distributed to local governments via block grants?
- No Answer
13. Should citizens be able to place initiative/referendum proposals on New York's statewide ballots?
- Yes
1. Support expanding the nationwide federal ban on the public sale of assault weapons to include all forms of semi-automatic weapons.
- No Answer
2. Increase state restrictions on the purchase and possession of firearms.
- No Answer
3. Maintain all state registration procedures and state restrictions on possessing firearms.
- No Answer
4. Ease state procedures and restrictions on the purchase and registration of firearms.
- No Answer
5. Repeal all state bans and measures that restrict law-abiding citizens from obtaining firearms.
- No Answer
6. Allow law-abiding citizens to carry concealed firearms.
- No Answer
1. Expand state funding for pre-natal and infant care programs available in the state, including immunizations.
- X
2. Provide tax incentives to assist small businesses in providing health care to their employees.
- No Answer
3. Ensure that New York citizens have access to basic health care, through managed care, insurance reforms, or state-funded care where necessary.
- No Answer
4. Guaranteeing medical care to all citizens is not a responsibility of state government.
- No Answer
5. Limit the amount of damages that can be awarded in medical malpractice lawsuits.
- No Answer
6. Support legislation requiring health insurance providers to cover certain medical services (e.g. 48 hr. hospital stay for mothers after childbirth).
- X
7. Require Health Maintenance Organizations (HMO's) to offer policies allowing individuals expanded choice of doctors.
- No Answer
8. Provide state-funded programs to encourage physicians to locate their practices in low-income communities.
- No Answer
9. Should physicians be allowed to help terminally ill patients who want to end their lives?
- No
1. Abortion
- Eliminate
2. Affirmative Action
- Maintain Status
3. AIDS Programs
- Maintain Status
4. Education
- Slightly Increase
5. Environment
- Maintain Status
6. Health care
- Maintain Status
7. Law enforcement
- Slightly Increase
8. Welfare
- Greatly Decrease
1. Alcohol Taxes
- Maintain Status
2. Business Taxes
- Greatly Decrease
3. Capital gains taxes
- Greatly Decrease
4. Income Taxes (incomes less than $75,000)
- Greatly Decrease
5. Income Taxes (incomes greater than $75,000)
- Greatly Decrease
6. Property taxes
- Slightly Decrease
7. Sales taxes
- Greatly Decrease
8. State Fees
- Greatly Decrease
9. Do you support a flat tax structure for state income taxes?
- No
1. Provide child care services to welfare recipients who work or attend school.
- X
2. Allow welfare recipients to work and still receive state-funded health care and child care (if needed) until they become self-sufficient.
- X
3. Require that able-bodied welfare recipients receive job training, attend school, or work in order to receive welfare benefits.
- X
4. Require that unwed mothers under the age of 18 attend school and live with a parent or guardian (if possible) to receive welfare benefits.
- X
5. Limit the welfare benefits given to recipients if they have additional children.
- No Answer
6. Provide two-parent families living in poverty the same welfare benefits as one-parent families.
- X
7. Eliminate government-funded welfare and advocate privately-funded assistance to people in need.
- No Answer
8. Impose a two-year limit on welfare benefits for recipients who are able to work.
- X
9. Limit New York residents' eligibility for AFDC benefits to five years in a lifetime.
- X
10. Rural welfare applicants should not be required to contact as many employers as urban welfare applicants as a condition for receiving benefits.
- No Answer
11. Require mandatory drug testing for welfare recipients.
- X
Explain what your two main legislative priorities will be if elected to the New York State Legislature. If any of your priorities will require additional government funding, explain how you intend to obtain the additional funding.
- Cut the property tax by ensuring Lottery funds go directly to education; Enactment of reforms including: *initiative and referendum, including a statewide referendum on the state budget when it is not passed on time. *a ban on members of the Legislature serving as delegates to the state constitutional convention.
Type: resolution Chamber: upper
Type: resolution Chamber: upper
Type: bill Chamber: upper
Republican Tedisco cites record in Assembly, political experience On the basketball court or the halls of government, lawmaker faces down the big guys Jim Tedisco stands just shy of 5 feet 8 inches. But in the prime of his basketball career, he could dunk. Tedisco trained for it by wearing ankle weights everywhere he went as a student at Union College, where he was a star athlete. At 58, Tedisco has spent 27 years of his political career as the hard-charging little guy, and has risen through the ranks to lead the Assembly's Republican minority. This month, he's attempting the biggest play of his life: a run for Congress. "I'm pretty proud of my work as an individual who concentrated on the economy for years, and now with this downturn I can hit the ground running," Tedisco said recently during an interview at Snyder's Restaurant in town. Snyder's is a humble little place where routes 9 and 146 meet, where old men gather on a weekday afternoon to drink a few beers and shoot the breeze. Although Tedisco has been in politics long enough not to say it out loud, the regular-guy atmosphere of Snyder's draws an implicit contrast to the portrait Republicans are trying to draw of Tedisco's Democratic opponent, Scott Murphy a Harvard-educated venture capitalist who moved out of Manhattan just three years ago. Tedisco grew up in Schenectady, where his father, Nicholas, worked at the General Electric iron foundry. Tedisco tells a story about the day his father noticed his son's grades "were lower than my basketball scores" and took him to work. "He opened the door and, I'll tell you, it looked like hell on Earth out there: red-hot molten steel coming over our heads, the soot was so thick you couldn't see," Tedisco said. "There was a clanging that gave me a ringing in my ears. He made me sit in the corner and watch him work for an eight-hour shift." At the day's end, father and son were filthy. When Tedisco blew his nose, what came out was black with soot. The day he took his son to work, Nicholas Tedisco was halfway through a 40-year career at the foundry. "He grabbed me by the shoulders and said, Look, you can either go back to school and get the grades and go on to college, or you can come here and work at the foundry,' " Tedisco said. Hard work and respect were paramount in the Tedisco household, which included two other brothers, one with Down syndrome who died of leukemia at 15. Politics, however, was not part of family life. Tedisco decided to run for office when he was a young teacher and a coach working with struggling families. "I looked at that and said, Jeez, if I become a public servant I could probably help the families more, create more jobs, help the economy more,' " Tedisco said. He was elected to Schenectady City Council in 1977, when he was 27. In 1982, Tedisco won a four-way primary and then the general election to succeed Clark Wemple in the Assembly; his district includes parts of Schenectady and Saratoga counties. While Tedisco does not live in the 20th Congressional District, he has plans to move there after the election. His years in the chamber have included a number of victories. In 1999, Gov. George Pataki signed Buster's Law, an animal-protection measure Tedisco championed. He also has pushed for property tax reform in the form of a tax cap. As for jobs, Tedisco points to his votes in 1998 to create the Schenectady Metroplex Development Authority and to increase its bonding authority in 2008, moves that assisted in the creation of 3,000 jobs. Tedisco was chosen by his colleagues in 2005 to lead the Republican minority, a job that earns him a $34,500 stipend in addition to his base salary of $79,500. Tedisco's tenure as minority leader put him in the national spotlight in 2007, when he was one of the loudest voices opposing former Gov. Eliot Spitzer's plan to grant driver's licenses to illegal immigrants. Tedisco's opponent, newcomer Murphy, has claimed that Tedisco's career in the minority has included a lot of time fighting things he doesn't like and not enough time offering solutions. Murphy has hounded Tedisco for not saying how he would have voted on the federal stimulus bill. Tedisco dismissed the criticism as shadowboxing from a candidate without a record of public service. "If I were him, I think I would want to talk about a vote that's already been cast and (a bill already) signed by the President," he said. "But I'm doing the job of a public servant now. I'm working now to get that money directly to the middle class, and I think that's what voters want to hear and see." His wife, Mary Song Tedisco, calls him the Energizer Bunny the hardest-working person she knows. "I'm a good multitasker," Tedisco said. "Sen. Hillary Clinton ran for president and she represented the entire state. I don't know if anyone ever asked her that question."
