Block blasts Fox on master lever, says he benefits from it

Dee DeQuattro

ddequattro@abc6.com

Graphic: mgnonline.com

Moderate Party chairman Ken Block is continuing his crusade
against “master lever” voting in Rhode
Island this time claiming it was the single-party
lever that helped Speaker of the House Gordon Fox re-elected.

Block said he has evidence from the Board of Elections to
prove it. He said in the 2012 election Fox won with 3,509 votes, 1,469 of which
were from voters who used the straight party ticket voting option at the top of
the ballot.

Fox's opponent Mark Binder lost by 995 votes, but Block said
without the “master lever” that may not have been to case.

“A level playing field may
have resulted in a different outcome in that race,” said Block. 
“It is a powerful reminder that we need to demand that our elected
officials put the rights of the voter first rather than promoting an outdated
voting tool that helps them cling to power.”

Block said Fox opposes the master lever because he has benefited
from it.

Block also called on Senate President Teresa Paiva-Weed to
ensure that the bill gets to the Senate floor for a vote.

“The Senate President can't
stage flashy press conferences to talk about 'moving the needle' while quietly
moving to kill the Master Lever bill,” said Block.  “The people
of Rhode Island
know empty, phony political posturing when they see it and they know that until
we eliminate the Master Lever and clean up our broken political system,
businesses will have little interest in moving to our state.”