NY Minute: Democrats, who blasted GOP for pricey car last year, buy $49,000 SUV

Also: Paterson set to deliver 6,900 vetoes today.

John Sampson

From the New York Post:

ALBANY -- State Senate Democrats who bashed Republicans last year for spending $50,000 on a luxury "Brunomobile" have just purchased a new SUV for Conference Leader John Sampson for more than $49,000, The Post has learned.
The 2010 "Sampsonmobile" is a 2½-ton, 332-horsepower Chevy Tahoe hybrid SUV that seats eight people. The vehicle comes equipped with a rear camera, ultrasonic rear parking assist and other luxury appointments, and is almost 17 feet long.
Senate Democrats, who have been battling Gov. Paterson's attempts to restrain state spending in the face of a $9.2 billion deficit, had mocked former Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno (R-Rensselaer) for his purchase of the Brunomobile. At the time, a Democratic spokesman called it "an outlandish use of taxpayer resources."

» Paterson's 6,900 vetoes set for return today [Albany Times-Union]

» New York consumer confidence sinks [Siena Research Institute]

» Pedro Espada thinks Andrew Cuomo is behind the push to kick him out of the state Senate [New York Daily News]