Speaker Fox Accused of Pay-to-Play; Spokesperson Calls Claims ‘Reckless’
Friday, October 19, 2012
House Speaker Gordon Fox is vehemently denying accusations that he accepted nearly $40,000 in campaign contributions in exchange for legal work and the passage of favorable legislation for donors during the last legislative session.
The pay-to-play claims came courtesy of Mark Binder, the Independent candidate challenging Fox in House District 4. Binder pointed to campaign contributions from Adler Pollock & Sheehan (the firm hired to handle a redistricting lawsuit brought on by the State GOP), the casino industry as well as several auto repair shop and car wash owners as examples that the Speaker can be “bought for several hundred dollars, for several thousand dollars.”
“It certainly doesn’t pass the smell test,” Binder said during a press conference held at the State House Thursday.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTBinder claims Adler Pollock & Sheehan helped raised Fox $7,300 during a March fundraiser; owners of auto repair shops contributed over $7,000 three months before a controversial auto insurance bill passed through the General Assembly at the last minute (Governor Chafee ended up vetoing the bill); and the “casino interests” contributed nearly $20,000 to the Speaker while the General Assembly was considering placing a table games referendum on this year’s ballot.
“This is the very definition of ‘pay-to-play,’” Binder said. “Taken together, these are the kind of actions which created a culture of insider dealing at the State House which is killing our business climate.”
But Bill Fischer, Fox’s campaign spokesperson, flatly denied that the Speaker has ever accepted campaign contributions in exchange for legal or legislative work. Without even hearing Binder’s claims Thursday, Fischer released a statement accusing the candidate of using “smear campaign tactics.”
“These false accusations are coming from a candidate whose best idea for raising state revenue is to increase soda sales,” Fischer said. “His campaign lacks substance in any way, shape or form. Voters are smart enough to understand that Mr. Binder’s campaign reeks of desperation.”
Following Binder’s press conference, Fischer again dismissed all of the accusations.
“Mr. Binder is conducting a very reckless campaign,” he said.
Dan McGowan can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter: @danmcgowan.
