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Cahill says attack ads contain 'falsehoods'

E-mail|Link|Comments () April 27, 2010 05:01 PM

Treasurer Tim Cahill issued a video response today to the Republican Governors Association ads.

By Martin Finucane, Globe Staff

Treasurer Tim Cahill says the negative ads that are being run against him by the Republican Governors Association include "distortions" and "falsehoods."

Speaking on the Charley Manning show on WRKO-AM, the independent gubernatorial candidate said the claim in the ads that ran today that he lost billions in the state pension fund while passing out bonuses was untrue.

"The truth is we've made billions and the bonuses were negotiated based on the returns, the positive returns of the pension fund," he said. He said no bonuses were given out when the fund lost money in 2008.

The Globe reported in August 2008 that pension fund officials were slated to receive bonuses, despite presiding over a $1 billion loss in fiscal year 2008. One pension board member argued that the pension staff deserved the bonuses because they saved the fund from an even greater loss.

Cahill also disputed the RGA ads' assertion that he spent $1 million on office renovations at the Massachusetts Lottery. He said the money was not spent by the state, but by the landlord who wanted to keep the Lottery as a tenant.

The Globe reported in December 2008 that Cahill had agreed to a more costly lease for five years to pay for the renovations at the office.

The Republican Governors Association, hoping to clear a path for GOP nominee Charles D. Baker, launched the hard-hitting campaign today, the Globe reported this morning.

The first major ad buy of the gubernatorial contest, which was to include television, radio, and Internet ads, came as Cahill and Baker are vying to become the prime alternative to Democratic Governor Deval Patrick.