Billionaire Golisano to spend $5M on elections

ALBANY - Billionaire and former New York gubernatorial candidate Tom Golisano is putting up $5 million to back candidates in state elections this fall - as long as they support his primarily fiscal agenda.

Golisano says the Responsible New York PAC launched Tuesday would support Republicans or Democrats, based on their answers to a questionnaire touching on eight issues.

Limiting budget increases, ending unfunded mandates, reforming property taxes, reforming campaigns and elections and keeping government employee compensation equal with the private sector are among Golisano's priorities.