The Senator said his office got a call from a member of the newspaper's Marketing Department suggesting an advertising buy would get him favorable coverage -- a charge the paper says it simply doesn't believe.

After touring the Troy Boy's and Girl's Club Tuesday - and laying a few punches on some boxing equipment in the gym - Bruno took shots at the coverage he didn't like: an article printed Sunday detailing trips aboard the state helicopter.

Bruno admitted flying to a handful of political fundraisers, but only when they coincided with official state business. The paper said the trips involved travel to and from fundraisers.

"Totally untrue, false, a lie," Bruno said. "And we have the documentation to prove it. But I'm going to give that documentation to the appropriate people. I'm not going to put out a press release saying what I did."

This wasn't the first time Bruno raised his fists at the newspaper. The Senator said the Times Union has cast him in a negative light for years.

Bruno said, "I'm not going to review it because you all will write about it again."

Bruno blasts TU

Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno had some choice words for the Albany Times Union, attacking the paper two days after an article in the paper accused him of violating state ethics rules by using state police helicopters to fly to fundraisers. Our Britt Godshalk has more on what the state's top Republican is saying.

"He ought to make sure that the people that work for him, he signs their paycheck in essence, that they act properly, that they're truthful," Bruno said.

As for the paper, Bruno said, "I got a new use for it. I've got my gum wrapped in it."

Despite trying to "stick it" to the newspaper, it didn't seem to phase the staff. In a statement, the Times Union said although it regrets losing Bruno as a customer, that won't stop them from what they call fair and truthful coverage.