NEW: Binder Blasts Fox on Additional Tax Credits

Thursday, March 21, 2013

GoLocalProv News Team

The election may not be over for Gordon Fox. His primary challenger Mark Binder, who almost upset the powerful Speaker of the House has come out today blasting Fox' yet to be announced tax credit program.

"Do we really need to be reminded of House Speaker Gordon Fox’s role in 38 Studios disaster so early in the year? It seems so. Following the 38 Studios disaster, Gordon Fox and many others in government, promised an investigation and oversight on projects like this. We are still waiting. In the meantime…," said Binder.

According to a release issued today by Binder, "The Legislature is reportedly considering granting upwards of $40 million in tax credits to rehab the “Superman building.” That’s $40 out of pocket for every man, woman and child in this state."

Binder, who challenged Fox for the 4th House seat surprised many with has aggressive challenge. Fox held on to win primarily due to the strong turnout at the voting locations in the Mount Hope section. Binder ran competitive with Fox at the East Side voting locations.

"And the person who’s lobbying for the project is a 26-year old-guy who worked on Gordon Fox’s political campaign in the last election. Nick Hemond is being paid handsome $10,000 dollars a month by an out-of state landowner and Cornish Associates developers to push the deal through. I wonder who’s going to be the broker for the tax credits, Michael Corso? (Corso is a lobbyist and broker of tax credits - he was tied to the 38 Studios failure). Once again it seems that in Rhode Island, it’s not about what’s best for the taxpayers, it’s about paying money to somebody who “knows a guy.

Yes, having the building empty downtown would be lame. But blame the current tax code, which makes it advantageous to leave property empty, rather than lease it at a lower rent." said Binder.

Fox is scheduled to announce a economic program this afternoon along side General Treasurer Gina Raimondo.

Enjoy this post? Share it with others.

Email to a friend Permalink

Comments:

anthony sionni

1:34pm on Thursday, March 21, 2013

Now we know why Fox doesn't like ethics #ethicsheldhostage !

Jonathan Flynn

5:03pm on Thursday, March 21, 2013

This is grammatically incorrect- does anyone edit this stuff?- and a 16 point loss is not an almost upset. Why keep up the pretense that Binder has any kind of real future in RI politics?

Charles Marsh

10:02pm on Saturday, March 23, 2013

Everyone knows that lobbyists and special interest money control the voting of RI lawmakers. Yet no one seems comfortable aligning lobbyists with the special interests they represent. You know the big picture of who really runs RI. Kinda of a "Linked In" look at the "connections". Or would that be too "transparent"?

Gary Arnold

5:16pm on Saturday, March 30, 2013

At least Binder has stood up to the Fox machine and not rolled over like so many others that are in the GA and connected circle of corrupt individuals.
Fox is a thief that the GA defends as in the house of thieves.
Fox is not a taxpayer leaning person, he has his and his agenda only, look at the wasted time on some of the personal programs he is trying to ram through.