Eric "I'm running for Congress again" Massa was recently quoted as saying, "I am certain that our support will continue to grow, and we will achieve victory in November." I'm not so sure his support will continue to grow (and I seriously doubt he will achieve victory in November), but I do know one thing that seems to be growing: the Massas' piggy bank.
According to their Federal Election Commission filings, the Massa campaign is paying Beverly Massa, Eric's wife, about $65,000 to perform payroll and accounting services for the campaign. That's right, $65,000!
Massa's wife shouldn't be on the dole in the first place, and $65,000 for part-time bookkeeping is an absolutely gratuitous rate. Supporters should be wondering why their hard-earned money is going to subsidize the Massa household.
To make matters worse, if you check the fec.gov website, you will see that the Massa campaign reported more than $15,000 in un-itemized credit-card expenditures. For $65,000, Mrs. Massa should be keeping better track of Eric's credit-card expenditures and itemizing them on the quarterly FEC filings. As it stands now, it looks like the Massa campaign has something to hide. Eric Massa wants to be our congressman, but he can't even demonstrate accountability when it comes to his most loyal supporters.
Sure doesn't pass the smell test.
STEVE BARNHOORN, HONEOYE
Comments for "POLITICS: Massa's family benefits from the campaign" (7)
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ToyoRing said on Aug. 21, 2008 at 7:43pm
I'm looking at the FEC report and I see that Mrs. Massa is being paid $3000 per month. That would be $36,000 per year, if she continues to be paid at that rate. Maybe Mr. Barnhoorn would like to explain his figure of $65,000. Or concerned voters can simply take a look at the public information on the Federal Election Commission's website. query.nictusa.com/cgi-bin/dcdev/forms/C00411306/351386/sb/ALL
sam Fedele said on Aug. 22, 2008 at 5:40pm
It is Mr. Barnhoorn who does not pass the smell test. He has submitted this fallacious piece to papers throughout the 29th Congressional district in an obvious attempt to smear Mr. Massa. And as a member of the Ontario County Rebublican Committee, he is hardly one of Mr. Massa's loyal supporters. He is, in fact, a liar. It is unfortunate that newspapers do not have the resources to fact check reader submissions.
Jack Edson said on Aug. 25, 2008 at 9:14am
Sam Fedele needs to get his facts and story straight: Mr. Barnhoorn has not been a member of the Ontario County Republican committee since 2000. Calling someone a liar is an out-and-out smear. Since Mr. Fedele wants to "out people," he is nothing more than a Democrat operative, mad because his candidate has been called into account. Toyo Ring: check the Schedule D and you will see the $65K.
Jack Edson said on Aug. 25, 2008 at 9:41am
ToyoRing, if you copy and paste this link into your web browser, you'll see the figure in question:
http://query.nictusa.com/cgi-bin/dcdev/forms/C00411306/351386/sd/10
SCHEDULE D
DEBTS AND OBLIGATIONS
Line #: 10
BEVERLY MASSA 65458.35 Payroll-accounting services
From the editor said on Aug. 25, 2008 at 10:22am
To readers commenting on the Barnhoorn letter: Prior to publishing the letter, we reviewed Massa's Federal Election Commission filing, which lists $65,000 owed to Massa's wife Beverly for payroll and accounting services. Massa's campaign says that is a debt dating back to 2005, that the campaign has just recently begun paying it, and that if she chooses to, Beverly Massa could forgive part of the debt.
ToyoRIng said on Aug. 26, 2008 at 8:41pm
Jack, I too, saw the information you pointed out to me. However, I was responding directly to a statement in the original letter--"the Massa campaign is paying Beverly Massa, Eric's wife, about $65,000 to perform payroll and accounting services for the campaign. That's right, $65,000!" What is clearly stated here is that the Massa campaign is PAYING $65,000 to Mrs. Massa. This is a cleverly worded lie using factually information found in the FEC report. Debt does not imply payment. As City has noted, the debt could be forgiven and never actually paid.
Jack Edson said on Aug. 27, 2008 at 11:09am
"This is a cleverly worded lie using factually information found in the FEC report. "
It is a matter of interpretation, not a lie. Since Team Massa is terming it a debt, isn't this "debt" really income? Surely that would raise a few eyebrows with the IRS... Just musing.
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