Cadillac and General Motors are catching some flak in a tabloid-fueled feud between New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Republican challenger Marc Molinaro.
Molinaro is county executive for Dutchess County, north of New York City. Last month, the state GOP picked him to run against Cuomo in November. It's an uphill battle; registered Democrats outnumber Republicans in the state by more than 2 to 1.
Undeterred, Molinaro published an open letter in emails and social media earlier this week addressed to Cadillac President Steve Carlisle. In the letter, Molinaro says he's a "great admirer" of Cadillac, but he calls on Carlisle to return $1 million in incentives the state supposedly gave Cadillac to "spruce up" its headquarters in New York City.
In the June 13 letter, Molinaro implies a link between the incentives and Cuomo reportedly receiving "$31,500 in political donations from the General Motors PAC."
Ed Cox, New York GOP chairman, was more outspoken in a posting dated June 12 on the party website. He called the Cadillac incentives a "corporate welfare giveaway" and "another brazen example of Cuomo's corrupt pay-to-play that is costing New Yorkers dearly."
GM has acknowledged making a contribution, but the company had little to add last week in a written response to a request for comment.
"The General Motors PAC supports the election of U.S. federal and state candidates who foster sound business policies," said Dayna Hart, GM public policy communications director. "This includes Governor Cuomo's re-election efforts. The amounts of PAC contributions are a matter of public record."