Leaders must get job done
The state Legislature's big meeting Tuesday to figure out ways to reduce spending was a colossal failure. We weren't surprised, considering more than 200 politicians were trying to come to a consensus on something.
Before heading into the emergency session called by the governor, legislators already were arguing over whether the state should enact midyear budget cuts. Many were prepared to fight for the programs they think should be preserved, which left little on the table.
Senate Republican leader Dean Skelos got Democratic Gov. David Paterson to suspend any cuts in the current budget, which has a projected $1.5 billion to $2 billion deficit.
Now, Paterson plans to present a 2009-10 budget to the Legislature in December. He projects $47 billion in deficits over the next three years.
It's obvious to us that state spending must be cut dramatically, perhaps even by making reductions across the board. The need for budget cuts should be obvious to the legislators, too. They also should realize no matter what they cut, someone probably will complain. People even will stage demonstrations like they did outside the Capitol in Albany Tuesday.
If the legislators can't accomplish budget reductions, maybe the public should start asking them to justify their jobs.
For now, we ask our own local state legislators, Sen. Hugh T. Farley, R-Niskayuna, and Assemblymen Marc Butler, R-Newport, and George Amedore, R-Rotterdam, to show the public their specific plans for reducing the budget. We'd like to see them write letters to the editor, attend local government meetings, conduct town forums or at least send news releases outlining their own proposals. We emphasize we want to hear their own plans, and not simply those of their party leaders.
|
countryboy
|
|
|---|---|
|
11-22-08 10:27 AM
|
scarecrow hit on this the other day. The state land with all the timber that is going to waste.Anyone that knows anything about managing a wood lot knows you have to thin out from time to time to giive the new growth a chance. the state has the means to do some of this themself.And when they can't there is a lot of loggers out there with good names.Which brings up another thing,the state pay's heap every year to give firewood to people who need help heating their homes. Which is ok cause we need help sometimes,but what about all the downed trees on state land just laying there. These tree could be put to good use for the people that need heat.Also would cut down the heap fund.Does this make snse? Looking for other's to wirte in and tell me that it's a bad plan,or if they agree.
|
|
Discobulous
|
|
|
11-20-08 12:09 PM
|
And how about those who are retired? The only reason to stay here is if you enjoy the Adirondacks. There is absolutely no other reason unless you own something that brings in the $.
|
|
Patriot1
|
|
|
11-20-08 11:04 AM
|
Putting local legislators under the gun is a start, but only a small start. The real trick is getting the State to rescind the unfunded mandates imposed on the counties. Since our feckless state legislators are most unlikely to abolish these mandates unless they are threatened with the immediate loss of their own salaries and perks, local towns, villages, hamlets and counties must immediately move to consolidate overlapping functions of government wherever possible. The alternative is an ever-increasing departure of businesses and potential young talent - an economic strangulation and slow death of the upstate area.
|