The spokesman for Senate Republican Leader Dean Skelos this afternoon blasted former gubernatorial candidate Carl Paladino in a comment-without-commenting statement that resurrects a line of attack used by Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s 2010 campaign.

The statement comes after Paladino called Skelos a “bum” and that he should resign, ostensibly over the gun control law passage, but also for his working relationship with Cuomo over the last two years.

In the statement, spokesman Scott Reif calls Paladino a failed candidate “looking to extend his 15 minutes of fame.”

“We’re not going to comment on any statements from a failed former gubernatorial candidate looking to extend his 15 minutes of fame, especially one who has received millions of dollars in tax breaks from the same State government he so often criticizes. Most New Yorkers recognize that it was Senator Skelos’ leadership that allowed us to enact a property tax cap, eliminate the MTA payroll tax for thousands of businesses and all schools, rightsize state government, expand the DNA databank to help prosecutors fight crime, mandate life without parole for anyone who kills a first responder and increase penalties for criminals who use illegal guns. We’re proud of the many conservative victories that have been achieved in the last three years.”

Cuomo and Democrats knocked Paladino, a Buffalo businessman with numerous real-estate investments, for having taken tax breaks over the years from New York state.

Paladino was in Albany today to rally against the gun control law that passed nearly a month ago.

Several Senate Republicans were at the event, but backed Skelos for negotiating the measure that produced several anti-crime provisions that had languished in the Legislature.

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