Community group wins federal
not-for-profit status

MILFORD, PA — The Tri-State Unity Coalition (TSUC) has been granted nonprofit status (501c3) by the Internal Revenue Service.

The TSUC is committed to promoting and enhancing inter-group understanding, cultural awareness and respect for differences within the  tri-state area including Pike (PA), Orange (NY) and Sussex (NJ) counties.

The organization was formed as a response to the anti-semitic statements sprayed on the Old Milford Inn in Milford, PA in August, 2000.

For more information visit the web at www.veneziale.net/~tristateunity.

Pataki signs rail tax reduction bill into law

ALBANY, NY — Governor George E. Pataki last week signed the Rail Infrastructure Investment Act of 2002 into law.

According to a state release, this measure will spur economic growth and job creation across the state, with a specific emphasis on upstate New York.

The measure has been proposed by the governor for the past two years, and will reduce the tax burden on railroads by approximately 45 percent over seven years for transportation properties currently owned by railroad companies, and ensure that the rail companies commit additional resources to make substantial enhancements in freight and passenger services, including greater safety, expanded access, and higher speed.

Finally, the proposal will establish a transition aid program, which will provide a total of $70 million over ten years to local governments to cushion their revenue loss, beginning with $4.7 million in 2003-04.

Court rules changes
will benefit patients, doctors

HARRISBURG, PA — State officials say Pennsylvania took a major step forward in its effort to end the medical malpractice insurance crisis and preserve patient access to quality health care when the state Supreme Court adopted two new House of Representatives-endorsed rules governing malpractice lawsuits.

The first rule incorporates a law approved by the General Assembly late last year requiring all medical malpractice cases to be brought in the county in which the alleged malpractice act took place.

The second new rule requires all medical malpractice lawsuits to include a “certificate of merit” from a medical professional certifying that the medical treatment fell outside acceptable professional standards.

Schools and county open communications

MONTICELLO, NY — Sullivan County Legislative Chair Leni Binder has moved to undertake one of the initiatives she highlighted for 2003.

The Sullivan County School Board Association held their January meeting on January 22, and addressed the topic of “The School Districts Role in the Economic Development of Sullivan County.”

All of the county legislators, County Manager Dan Briggs, County Attorney Ira Cohen and representatives from Sullivan County BOCES and the county’s eight school districts attended the dinner meeting hosted by the Monticello High School.

A BOCES statement reported that the “meeting adjourned with a collaborative effort to grow the county both economically and educationally.”

Legislators discuss combining
fish, game commissions

HARRISBURG, PA — The Pennsylvania House of Representatives’ Game and Fisheries Committee will conduct a study on the feasibility of merging the state Game Commission and Fish and Boat Commission.

The two agencies are currently experiencing financial difficulties and legislators believe they may both seek increases in license fees or continue to dip into reserves when they make their annual budget presentations to the committee in early February.

Hearings on the issue were last held in 1989, and at that time sportsmen and anglers did not want a change. Pennsylvania is the last state in the nation to have hunting, trapping, fishing and recreational boating regulated by more than one commission.

Gunther says Pataki budget
is ‘mission impossible’

ALBANY, NY — Sullivan County Assemblyman Jacob Gunther (DC-98) says that “At first blush, [Governor George Pataki’s budget] proposal appears to be mission impossible—to cut over $1 billion from last year, not raise taxes and at the same time cover an $11 billion deficit.”

Gunther characterized the governor’s presentation as unusually brief and short on details.

He was critical of a proposed eight-percent cut in K-12 education aid, saying the governor must know this will simply pass the costs on to local property taxes.

Gunther concluded, however, that this is “merely the governor’s proposal,” which will be subject to Senate and Assembly revisions in coming months.