Giant Inflatable Chicken Shows Up in Downtown Binghamton

Some people staging a political protest used a big blow-up bird outside a courthouse in downtown Binghamton to get attention.

A group called Speak Out Central New York obtained a Broome County permit to inflate a giant "Tax Chicken" on the lawn at Court and Collier streets. The cartoon-like bird features a bronze hairstyle and gestures designed to gain attention.

The huge parade-style balloon took shape shortly before noon on Thursday. Broome County security division director James Dadamio kept an eye on the inflatable to make sure it was properly secured.

Members of the protest group handed out cards to passersby criticizing Congresswoman Claudia Tenney's support of President Trump's tax reform package.

The cards claimed the changes give "her wealthy campaign donors and big corporations billions in tax breaks." Tenney opponents contend the law "will raise taxes for New Yorkers by $2.4 billion" next year.

Tenney's office released this statement Thursday afternoon:  “As I travel around the district and speak with small business owners and hardworking families one thing is clear—tax reform is working. Small businesses are growing, hiring and giving back to their communities and their employees. According to a recent survey by National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), 72% of manufacturers are increasing workers’ wages, 77% are hiring more workers and 86% are investing in plants and equipment. Tax reform is growing our local economy and giving low- and middle-income Americans the opportunity to save and invest in their futures. The liberal, Nancy Pelosi narrative that tax reform only benefits the wealthy is duplicitous. Recently the left-leaning Tax Policy Center reported that the top 20% of Americans will pay 87% of the income tax burden. This tax cut was designed to provide desperately needed relief for low- and middle-income families and struggling small businesses and that’s exactly what it’s done.”