Rensselaer, NY, Apr 23, 2009 — The North Country relies on government jobs, from state prisons to local schools, for much of its vitality. In many towns, those public-sector workers and their paychecks anchor the entire economy. But state tax revenues are plummeting. Despite the Federal stimulus, many state and local agencies are already laying off workers or implementing hiring freezes. As part of our series A Year of Hard Choices, Brian Mann checked in with the region's lawmakers in Albany. They say the pressures on the region's economy are building fast.