Wednesday Briefing: To Cap Or Not; Airline Felines; Junior Stogies

by Contributor | June 4, 2008 8:29 am

Today’s briefing is an example of government in action, or government inaction. Your choice.

Top story: Tax cap

A commission says there needs to be a whole bunch of reforms in the area of funding for schools through property taxes. Never mind all that, says Gov. Paterson, who’s picking just the top recommendation. He wants a cap on property tax hikes[1] at 4% and is willing to call a special session of the Legislature to get it.

Teacher unions are against it, naturally. So is the state’s school administrators’ group[2].

But how, you ask, could your local state legislator be against something that could provide relief to everyone who pays property taxes….and votes? Easy[3].

Elsewhere:

The Gov. gets a new suit to wear with his tax cap. He’s being sued[4] over the gay marriage recognition[5] order.

Attorney General Andrew Cuomo wins a settlement[6] in the mortgage financing mess.

A big foreign company wants to make power from wind[7] Upstate. No truth to the rumor that their first two windmills would be on the floors of the State Senate and Assembly.

The state’s taking up the fight against diabetes[8].

The Senate and Assembly approve bills giving you much more access to government documents[9]. (And now I feel awful for picking on them two items ago…)

Apropos of not-very-much:

The fire at the F. X. Matt Brewery in Utica began with a welder’s torch.[10]

A big problem at JFK Airport? No, not on-time arrivals, lost luggage or the absurd amount of time you spend in line just to get on the plane. No, it’s feral cats.[11]

Here’s one way to beat high gas prices[12] that’s growing quickly.

And finally:

A child’s in rehab in China, to break his addiction to his father’s cigars[13].

What did we miss? Drop it in the comments below. Smoke ’em if you’ve got ’em (and can afford ’em) (and you’re not 4 years old) and we’ll see you tomorrow.

Like this:

Endnotes:
  1. wants a cap on property tax hikes: http://www.buffalonews.com/nationalworld/state/story/362069.html
  2. state’s school administrators’ group: http://readme.readmedia.com/news/show/Tax-Cap-the-Wrong-Direction-Mandate-Relief-Addressing-Root-Causes-Needed/178775
  3. Easy: http://www.syracuse.com/state/index.ssf?/base/business-2/1212511173278250.xml&storylist=state
  4. He’s being sued: http://www.syracuse.com/state/index.ssf?/base/news-26/1212530987195660.xml&storylist=state
  5. gay marriage recognition: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/04/nyregion/04marriage.html?_r=1&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&oref=slogin
  6. wins a settlement: http://www.syracuse.com/state/index.ssf?/base/business-2/1212531546221330.xml&storylist=state
  7. make power from wind: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/04/nyregion/04wind.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
  8. the fight against diabetes: http://timesunion.com/ASPStories/Story.asp?StoryID=693303&LinkFrom=RSS
  9. much more access to government documents: http://www.syracuse.com/state/index.ssf?/base/news-26/1212533051287340.xml&storylist=state
  10. began with a welder’s torch.: http://www.buffalonews.com/nationalworld/state/story/362048.html
  11. feral cats.: http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/06/03/airport-cat-roundups-resume-as-do-protests/
  12. one way to beat high gas prices: http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/06/02/as-gas-prices-soar-so-does-the-scooters-popularity/
  13. addiction to his father’s cigars: http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_2880009.html?menu=

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