If you own a home in the 110th Assembly District, you've probably seen a the mailer bearing a picture of Tedisco, and warning: "(insert your municipality here) Homeowners Beware..."

While the flier goes out of its way to not identify itself as campaign literature, and marks the "New York State Assembly" as its return address, the card looks strangely like campaign literature.

The substance of the flier outlines the dangers of Gov. David Paterson's proposed increase on taxes for homeowners, and rallying constituents to "Join Assemblyman Jim Tedisco in stopping tax hikes on homeowners by calling Governor Paterson at (518) 474-8390."

Even if not explicitly designed to promote the Republican Congressional candidate, the literature does a good job of positioning Tedisco on the homeowner's side, while also making the usual overtures to put the recipient in the shoes of the every-man/woman/taxpayer -- while also calling out thsoe evil Democrats.

Every member of the state legislatures has the ability to print and mail such materials to their consituents -- on legilsative matters. These privalges can't be abused for the purposes of a campaign, but there's clearly no need to. When the time comes to say "vote Tedisco," the Assemblyman from schenectady will have pleanty of money in his campaign war chest to print those announcements, and his state-funded cards will already have done a tremendous job at increasing his already considerable name-recognition around the district.

Meanwhile, Democratic candidate Scott Murphy will have to expend his own funds to accomplish the same goal. Just one of the many reason that make it easier to run whilest already in office.