Apr 14, 2005 — There's renewed debate over the future of the North Country's share of cheap electricity produced at the hydropower dam in Massena. The local Alcoa and General Motors plants currently use almost 500 megawatts at below market prices. That's more than the amount of electricity all the households in northern New York use. The agreement expires in 2013. Lawmakers want the industrial giants to extend their side of the deal and commit to providing jobs long term. But if Alcoa and General Motors were to close, people worry downstate interests could grab the cheap power. Two North Country lawmakers are writing bills to stop that from happening. But as David Sommerstein reports, they differ over how to do it.  Go to full article

Apr 06, 2005 — These are tense weeks for Medicaid recipients. Last week, the legislature restored Governor Pataki's proposed Medicaid cuts. But Pataki still has line-item veto power to make irreversible cuts to the budget. And many advocates fear he'll use it  Go to full article

Apr 04, 2005 — As a part of the budget, lawmakers agreed to extend one of the state's main economic development programs. The Empire Zones program gives more than 9,000 businesses tax credits to locate in New York and create jobs. There are almost a dozen Empire Zones in northern New York. The new legislation heightens reporting requirements for companies that get tax breaks. And it links benefits more closely to job creation. It extends the program until 2015. David Sommerstein spoke with North Country Assemblyman Darrel Aubertine. He says the program is designed to help distressed communities.  Go to full article

Mar 11, 2005 — Around the country, small rural airports - like Massena, Watertown, Ogdensburg, Saranac Lake, Plattsburgh and others in the North Country - are supported by federal subsidies. President Bush is calling for local and state taxpayers to shoulder more of the burden. Local lawmakers say the measure could force those airports to shut down.  Go to full article

Mar 08, 2005 — Assemblyman Joseph Morelle from Rochester has proposed a snowmobile speed limit for New York. Police support the idea but think it might be tough to enforce. Greg Warner reports.  Go to full article

Mar 03, 2005 — Nursing homes care for those seniors least able to care for themselves. It's the most costly kind of elderly care, and Governor Pataki wants to cut $200 million in state funding for the homes, saying that enrollment is on the decline. Some nursing home administrators say they could deal with the problem themselves, if freed from state regulations.  Go to full article

Feb 17, 2005 — A state court has ordered New York's legislature to spend 5.6 billion dollars more each year to improve New York City's crumbling public schools. Governor George Pataki has promised to appeal the ruling. School officials around the North Country worry that increased funding for the city would mean fewer dollars for rural districts. Now the group that brought the lawsuit, known as the Campaign for Fiscal Equity, is working to convince upstate education leaders that their districts won't pay the price for rebuilding schools in the city. Brian Mann reports from Plattsburgh.  Go to full article

Jan 24, 2005 — As the state legislature begins review of the executive budget, the North Country will have more influence in the Senate. Senator Jim Wright announced late last week he's been promoted to an entry leadership position, the Deputy Majority Leader for Policy. The Watertown Republican was also appointed to the powerful Senate Finance Committee, which controls the chamber's purse strings. It's the first time a North Country Senator has sat on the committee since the retirement of Senator Ron Stafford. Wright says the two positions will give the North Country more leverage in Albany.  Go to full article

Jan 19, 2005 — Governor Pataki released his spending plan for the coming year yesterday. His proposed budget attempts to take a bite out of the deficits dogging the state since September 11th, 2001. Pataki's proposal will close a $4.2 billion shortfall in the fiscal year beginning April 1st. He predicts the following two years will have deficits of almost $3 billion each. As Karen DeWitt reports, reining in the costs of health care tops the Governor's list of priorities.  Go to full article

Jan 19, 2005 — Pataki is also proposing a tax hike levied on hospitals and nursing homes. According to the Glens Falls Post Star, the Glens Falls hospital could pay as much as $1.4 million more under the proposal. The legislature rejected a similar tax hike plan pushed by the Governor last year. Brian Mann spoke with State Senator Betty Little, a Republican from Queensbury.  Go to full article