Sag Harbor - Assemblyman Fred Thiele has issused the following statement regarding the State Comptroller's decision to audit the MTA:

"I recently contacted New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli, along with my Assembly Long Island colleagues, and requested that his office conduct a comprehensive audit of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. I am happy to report that Comptroller DiNapoli has agreed to perform the audit, in addition to the various ones his offices are in the middle of investigating."

"I want to take this opportunity to thank the Comptroller for his hard work and the dedication of him and his staff as they work to ensure that state taxpayer money is spent in accordance with the law. As a strong opponent of the MTA Payroll Tax and the 'bailout' legislation enacted by the Legislature last year (I voted against the proposal), I want to make sure these monies are spent and collected properly; especially given that MTA estimates for the Payroll Tax revenues have been grossly underestimated. The financial woes of the MTA have been well documented only recently and I pledge to continue to work with my Assembly colleagues and Comptroller DiNapoli on this issue. I have every confidence that Comptroller DiNapoli will do a good job, as he has done throughout his tenure."