Mayoral front-runner Bill de Blasio today accused his Republican opponent, Joe Lhota, of being “fiscally irresponsible” for putting out an economic plan that only offers tax breaks for corporations and benefits the wealthy.

Speaking to reporters following an endorsement by Congresswoman Grace Meng, in Flushing, Mr. de Blasio seized on a Daily News report indicating that Mr. Lhota lobbied for tax breaks for Madison Square Garden while serving as executive in that company.

“All I know from the media report is that he was duly registered as a lobbyist and that the mission of Madison Square Garden was to seek tax breaks,” he told reporters, after asked a question by Daily News reporter Reuven Blau. “Clearly right now they have a tax status I disagree with. That is a very, very profitable firm and they get a massive tax break on Madison Square Garden and I think it’s uncalled for.”

“It is chock loaded with tax breaks for corporations and for wealthy individuals. In fact, it’s several billion–two to three billion dollars a year–of tax breaks for corporations and the wealthy,” he charged. “And I think that is fiscally irresponsible. And I think that points out that Mr. Lhota seems very interested in serving the most powerful special interests.”

“So I think it’s clear that Mr. Lhota believes in giving more and more tax breaks to corporations,” he added.

Mr. Lhota denied that he had asked for tax breaks.

(Jacob Kornbluh – YWN)