« R.I. congressmen blast Bush's health-insurance veto | Today | Court fires clerk who threw away 'vital' documents »

October 3, 2007

Alves calls allegations against him 'utterly baseless'

EAST PROVIDENCE -- State Sen. Stephen Alves says allegations that he blocked legislation to punish a town that didn't do business with him are "utterly baseless.''

Alves, a stockbroker and the chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, spoke with reporters before a scheduled radio interview about news reports that he is being investigated by the FBI.

Johnston Mayor Joseph Polisena has said FBI agents questioned him about Alves's decision to kill tax incentive legislation designed to bring a trucking company to the town.

The mayor said FBI agents indicated they were investigating whether Alves blocked the plan because the town didn't invest its pension fund through him.

But Alves told reporters that he never solicited pension work from Johnston or its mayor.

In the wake of the reports, Governor Carcieri yesterday called for Alves to step aside as chairman of the Senate Finance Committee.

-- The Associated Press

Posted by Mike McKinney  at 4:23 PM | Permalink

Comments

Alice | October 3, 2007 5:26 PM link

Greg | October 4, 2007 8:01 AM link

Post a comment

Please be civil. Vicious comments, personal attacks and profanity won't be published. Name and email are required; email address will not publish.

Name:

Email Address:

URL:
Remember Me? YesNo

Comments: (you may use HTML tags for style)