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Rensselaer County Taxpayers Association

September 2002                                                                                                                                                     Volume 7,  Number 5

A nip in the air brings a spring to your step. Get out and enjoy the cool weather. The panorama of colorful leaves will soon be everywhere.

Is a time for reflection and thankfulness for the brave and wonderful people in NY City. We especially commend the Police and Fire Departments for acting as true professionals and great Americans. Let us also say prayers for all citizens who perished in this tragedy.

In a recent TU item, Aug. 22, the East Greenbush school superintendent announces, "a new school district attendance policy clearly defines what is expected of students earning course credit while outlining ways to track and reduce absences. Development of the policy adopted last week was mandated by the state education dept."

From the tone of this article it strongly suggests that there is a high truancy rate that among other things must be dealt with. "A district-wide incentive program will be developed to encourage kids to attend school regularly. Among the rewards to be determined by building principals, monthly or annual lottery drawings for prizes, special recognition on bulletin boards, in public address announcements or in-building and district-wide newsletters, Brewer said".

Isn’t that just dandy? Students will get special awards for just showing up. No question about it, parents will be overjoyed and relieved to know little Willie or Mary will be safe and secure at school each day. Isn’t this a great improvement of what has gone before?

But wait – in the old days students went to school because they WANTED TO, not because of threats, state mandates, excuses or enticements. At those times, parents bridged no excuses and yet trusted school authorities. The school authorities in turn were entirely trustworthy.

During the late 19^th century, U.S. Senator James Blaine from Maine introduced a U.S. Constitutional amendment that would prohibit states from using tax dollars to help any religious sect or denomination. His federal efforts failed, but with the exception of Louisiana, Maine, and North Carolina, all the other states in the union embraced the idea.

A series of legal challenges of the use of the Blaine Amendment to deny parents freedom of choice has occurred. Recently a Florida judge struck down the State’s school voucher law. As a result, some 9,000 students eligible for the program must stay where they are – in public schools with a record of failure. According to The Wall Street Journal, 8/9/02, the teachers’ unions and the state NAACP hailed the decision. "It’s for the children?"

In this battleground of school choice wars, there have been several victories for choice and more will follow. The U.S. Supreme Court affirmed the Cleveland, Ohio, voucher program. Last month, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals said a Washington State scholarship program, which prohibited the use of money to study at sectarian colleges "factually discriminates on the basis of religion." Also, voucher programs in Arizona and California survived challenges. Will New York face the same problem soon? Contact your state legislative representative with a request to abolish the Blaine Amendment.

Our Rensselaer special. Just climb on. Even those who do not intend to go any place are being taken for a ride. On the one hand we have Amtrak and on the other CDTA. Comptroller Carl McCall has now seen the light and says, according to the TU, August 20, in a piece by Wm. Dowd, "it is comforting to know Mr. McCall finally spoke up about what most people in the capital Region have long known, that their tax dollars have been lavishly used, even misused on this project. And, he managed to sneak in an audit report just days before a CDTA-Amtrak accord was reached."

We see here another manifestation of government agencies operating at their worst. One salient point. What is the CDTA doing in the construction business? Aren’t they supposed to be struggling with the operation of buses? These activities indicate how far afield government has moved from a controlled governance role. According to our U.S. Constitution with its severe limitations and forewarnings to future politicians and administrators, our Bill of Rights contains more "shall nots" than the Ten Commandments.

In addition to the railroad juggernaut, government intrusion is into the U.S. Postal Service, the education of children and dozens of others. Our Defense Dept. seems to be one area where professional competency takes priority. Most citizens recognize this. Actually, the answer lies in allowing private industry to under take the activities to which it is justly entitled and which there are no equal in the world.

Hillary Rodham Clinton, as a New York State Senator, now comes under this fancy "Congressional Retirement and Staffing Plan," which means that even if she never gets re-elected, she STILL receives her Congressional salary until she dies.

If Bill out-lives her, he then inherits HER salary until HE dies. He is already getting his presidential salary until he dies. If Hillary out-lives Bill, she also gets HIS salary until she dies. Guess who pays for that? The taxpayers do!

It’s common knowledge that in order for her to establish NY residency, they purchased a million dollar-plus house in upscale Chappaqua, New York. Makes sense. They are entitled to Secret Service protection for life. Still makes sense.

Here is where it becomes interesting. Their mortgage payments hover at around $10,000 per month. BUT, an extra residence HAD to be built within the acreage to house the Secret Service agents.

The Clintons charge the federal government $10,000 monthly rent for the use of that extra residence, which is just about equal to their mortgage payment. This means that we, the taxpayers, are paying the Clinton’s salary, mortgage, transportation, safety, and security, as well as the salaries for their 12 man staff – and, this is all perfectly legal!

When she runs for president, will you vote for her?

Recall the comparison of school superintendents and military generals that appeared in the last RCTA newsletter? It addresses responsibility, compensation, and the personnel needed to deliver exemplary services.

Freedom of the press is vital. Additionally, the issuance of appropriate policy statements concerning the actions taken by subordinates is commonplace. When a military commander makes an error in judgement by the use of insults, which appeared in the COLUMBIAN yearbook, reprimands should be in order.

A "vow" by school officials to increase activities and to use censorship when necessary in school publications is in order. However, the immediate implementation of existing policy and oversight was not. What have your elected officials done in this matter?

School officials simply closed the barn door after the horse is gone. I ask you, who was disciplined in the East Greenbush District?

All-American voters should me made aware of some of these "behind the scenes" facts. Most certainly there is a political dimension here. Enron’s Chairman did meet with the President and the Vice President in the Oval Office. Enron gave $420,000 to the president’s party over three years. It donated $100,000 to the president’s inauguration festivities. The Enron chairman stayed at the White House 11 times. The corporation had access to the administration at its highest levels and even enlisted the Commerce and State Department to grease deals for it. The taxpayer supported Export-Import Bank subsidized Enron for more than $600 million in just one transaction.

But…

The president under whom all this happened wasn’t George W. Bush………..

It was Bill Clinton.

Are still under review and being written and re-written. Did you ever get the feeling that something is wrong? According to the TU, Aug 18, "Chancellor Robert Bennett says the elaborate process of writing the state Regents exams is being dissected to determine whether the tests are fair and meet the state’s standards." Realistically, just what is the problem that the top officials in our education system are having so much difficulty in writing tests that should be a reflection of the work undertaken during the work year? Do our officials have a working knowledge of the courses given in our schools? If not, why not? Why has the failure rate been so high in previous years? Facts and knowledge have taken second place to sensitivity training and self esteem.

In early June, Commissioner Mills ended a practice of editing and altering for "sensitivity" literary passages used in English tests. The action came after parents, writers, and civil libertarians exposed the practice. "Not one board member knew about it." Bennett said Friday.

It is quite evident that the various officials are working at cross purposes. No good can come of this. In a recent edition of the Veteran’s of Wars magazine is noted "Student history scores ‘abysmal’." "According to the 2001 U.S. History Report Card, 57% of senior high school students do not have a ‘basic’ knowledge of America’s past. Sadly, some revisionist historians dismiss such knowledge as ‘impractical’." It even gets worse. One panelist at a national Council for Social Studies forum stated, "we need to de-exceptionalize the United States. We’re just another country and another group of people." Incidentally, a national survey by pollster Frank Kuntz found that 37% of college students would attempt to evade a draft if reinstated and 21% would serve only stateside.

We would like to invite our State Officials and local school moguls to answer honestly on this information.

The Town Board of Schodack wants to increase the Supervisor’s term of office from two years to four years. We see this trend toward longer terms in other towns as well. It is a bad trend and must be vigorously opposed. Longer terms are favored only by those in office, not by critically thinking, objective citizens.

The argument for longer terms is that a short term is not long enough to get done what one was elected to do, what with the steep learning curve of office and the need to run for re-election while serving the peoples’ needs. Poppycock!!! What they are really saying is that they need a longer term to do whatever they want before again accounting to the electorate, they weren’t prepared when they took office, and justifying to the voters gets in the way of forcing their agenda through. Honest, open government officials are never afraid to go before the voters to explain their actions and ask for re-affirmation of their policies. It is the democratic way.

Now, in Schodack, the Supervisor and all four Councilmen are Republicans. Two of the Councilmen ran unopposed in the last election. Let this sink in – two elected officials ran unopposed and now have four years to do what they want before accounting to the voters. The Supervisor’s term is two years and they want to extend it to four years. Statesmen? Democracy advocates? I think not! They are looking only for a four year period when they can do what they want before going to the voters and justifying their actions.

The four year supervisor term will be on the ballot in November requiring your vote to enact. Vote against it and support responsive government.

1. According to the TU, Aug 9, Rensselaer Co. is facing a 13.4 million dollar deficit, which it blames partly on state and federal mandates. One remedy is to follow the example of Albany County. Their citizens demand public meetings with the avowed purpose of reducing the number of County legislators. Renss. County needs to do the same, AND the quicker the better.
2. Many East Greenbush residents have been and still are against the rebuilding of Columbia Turnpike. While observing the workings of the people involved, one must compliment the contractors and their crews by the way they do their job in operating various machines and in all phases in a truly professional way. American capitalism at its best.
3. We are informed, via the grapevine that NYC prosecutors are considering going after shady politicians. The suspects are attempting to pass laws to prevent DA Morganthau or anyone else from gathering evidence that can be sued against the felons. This should be an interesting angle to follow.
4. It has been said over and over, the only way to stop politicians from spending money is don’t let them get their hands on it in the first place. You do this by reducing excessive taxes.
5. A lease is close to being signed by CDTA and Amtrak on the new Rensselaer station. How about all the boosters and glad handers show up to take the "credit" for this mess. The ribbon cutting ceremony should be well publicized with pictures, the works.

Another Yogi Berra quote, "They’re gonna pay me in cash – it’s as good as money.
Castleton Resident

Environmental wackos have prevented a group of third graders from releasing a bunch of balloons into the air.
Schodack Resident

There appears to be a contest between Albany and East Greenbush to see who can come up with the most bank robberies.
Hampton Manor Resident

Why do we need town supervisors with a 4 year term in office? There are no rational arguments in favor of such a change.
Schodack Resident

Rensselaer is making good use of its Riverfront Park. The lack of trash and graffiti is quite commendable. Others please take note.
Clinton Heights Resident

Back issues of the Taxpayers News are available at:

Bumper sticker, why is a politician like a diaper? They both need frequent changing and for the same reason.
North Greenbush Resident

Now is the time to campaign for a seat on the E. Greenbush school board. Think May 2003, it’ll be here sooner than you think.
East Greenbush Resident

Are you sick of a single line of traffic on Columbia Turnpike? Hold on – in another six months it will be speeders paradise.
Clinton Heights Resident