State lawmakers cut ties with Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber on budget bill

YOUNGSTOWN — State legislators from Mahoning and Trumbull counties say they will no longer work with the Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber on prioritizing projects to receive state capital bill funding after learning the chamber is asking arts entities for money to lobby on their behalf.

“When we found out there were solicitations, we severed ties,” said state Rep. John Boccieri of Poland, D-59th. “We can’t be part of that. If they want to be lobbyists, that’s fine, but we can’t work with that.”

The six-member delegation wrote a letter to chamber officials today that it would no longer work with them.

“The nature of your conversations and affiliations with entities in the capital bill raise serious concerns,” the letter reads. “Therefore, we will no longer regard you as a facilitator for capital bill project submissions.”

Chamber officials couldn’t immediately be reached for comment by The Vindicator today.

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