Gov. Chafee asked AFL-CIO’s Nee to resign from EDC board. Nee refused.
May 25, 2012
George Nee of Cranston, president of the Rhode Island AFL-CIO, has been asked by Governor Lincoln Chafee to resign from the board of the Economic Development Corporation. Nee said in an interview that he has declined.
“I will not be resigning from the board,’’ Nee told RI Public Radio in an interview. “He (Chafee) did ask me to resign.’’
“I will ask to be reappointed,’ said Nee. His term was up in February but Chafee has not replaced Nee.
“I enjoy serving on that board. Economic Development is important and it is important for labor to have a voice here. It is his (Chafee’s) call, but I’m not going to resign.’’
Nee voted for the ill-fated 38 Studios- Curt Schilling deal in the waning days of the administration of Gov. Donald Carcieri.
On Politics 
Given the record of the old board, and Mr. Nee was part of the Board at the time of the approval of the 38 Studio deal, he should resign and let the new member who is appointed to solve the problem to do so.
Chafee should appoint a member of the general public whose interests are for the taxpayers and the future of the state. Labor is represented in the Legislature which has its own role to play in EDC’s funding. If labor is to be represented it should be a representative of NON-Public unions.
The Teamsters, or an AFL-CIO union representing workers working for private sector companies, should be considered for Mr. Nee’s position if Labor’s representation is considered important.
Wow, what a hard hitting press release ….errr “interview” from George Nee.
Time to dissolve the EDC. Save the money and reduce our tax burden. It is being a lower cost state with policies that make it easier to do business that will do more for our economic development than the state having a committee gamble on individual companies with sweet deals.
The boss asks you to resign. You say no. The boss fires you. That is how it works in the real world Mr. Chafee.
Do the job.
Well spoken Jeff and why is this NEE guy still there Get with the program CHAFEE you one termer ?????