Caprio to run as a Republican?
NEWS RELEASE - John Dodenhoff, the former campaign manager for Steve Laffey, yesterday went on radio to say that gubernatorial candidate Frank Caprio is considering switching parties and running as a Republican. Dodenhoff said that he was approached by a representative of Caprio’s campaign to gauge whether he would help Caprio “bridge the gap with disaffected” Republicans if Caprio were to join the Republican ranks.
Lynch campaign manager Mike Mikus said Caprio’s record of standing up for big corporations and the wealthy are consistent with the record of the Republican Party and the policies of Governor Don Carcieri. He also said it would be no surprise if Frank Caprio ran as a Republican as he’s veered hard to the right since the Republicans won the special election for the U.S. Senate seat in Massachusetts. Less than two weeks ago, Caprio attended an event sponsored by the right-wing Rhode Island Statewide Coalition where he pledged to financially support them in their efforts to defeat Democrats across Rhode Island.
“It’s not surprising that Frank Caprio may run as a Republican. Just like Don Carcieri, He has a track record of tax breaks to executives, CEO’s, and the rich that have blown a hole in the state budget,” Mikus said. “Maybe Frank Caprio and Don Carcieri think it’s a good idea to cut taxes for CEOs, but working Rhode Islanders certainly disagree.”
Caprio’s record includes support for the alternative flat income tax for the wealthy. Unfortunately for working Rhode Islanders, unemployment has jumped from 5 percent to 13 percent. The flat tax is projected to cost the state $56 million in 2010 and will cost as much as $79 million in 2011 according to some estimates.
“Frank Caprio supported the flat tax saying it would create jobs, but all it has done is put more money back into the pockets of the wealthy while small businesses continue to struggle and hard working Rhode Islanders lose their jobs,” Mikus added.
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