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Paterson Proposes Legislation to Ease Property Tax Burden

New York – Current gas prices are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to cost of living. For New Yorkers, who face some of the highest property taxes in the country, it only gets worse. In hopes of providing some relief, Gov. David Paterson is proposing new legislation that could lower taxes. Recommendations made by the state commission on local government efficiency are included in the bill, which calls for consolidating local governments, in order to cut back on spending. It includes plans for local municipalities to share services, combine school districts, and restructure the current jail system.
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Too Early to Think About 2010? Not With the Stakes So Big. With all the hoopla, it’s easy to overlook the drama already brewing over the 2010 gubernatorial elections-a cycle that key Democrats and Republicans say may have an even greater impact on the country. In two years, voters in 36 states will elect chief executives. And at least 18 of those states will have new names from which to choose, thanks to term limits preventing incumbents from running again. Both committees, looking ahead to 2010, are in the middle of four-year plans tackling fundraising and early candidate recruitment. They’re also building political bases in key battleground states to set the stage for what could be landscape-altering contests.
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ENERGY NEWS

IA – Culver Announces Push to Train Iowa Wind Energy Workforce. Private investors, educators and state officials are uniting to train a strong wind energy work force and to turn Iowa into the renewable energy version of Silicon Valley, Gov. Chet Culver said. “I invite all of you to just give Iowa a try,” Culver said. The wind industry last year saw 45 percent growth in the number of turbines installed and megawatt capacity, according to American Wind Energy Association, which hosted the national workshop. Culver said he also wants to make sure there’s a stream of well-trained workers in Iowa to meet the demands in the “green-collar” industry.
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MD – O’Malley Signs Energy Bill. Gov. Martin O’Malley took a major step towards solving Maryland’s electricity challenges by signing into law a legislative package designed to reduce consumers’ electricity bills, avoid electricity shortages predicted as early as 2011, and promote a more sustainable and diversified electricity supply. The EmPOWER Maryland Act, codifies one of the most ambitious energy efficiency goals in the nation. When fully implemented this will save Maryland households an average of $16 a month or $190 a year and reduce the need to build three new large power plants. By 2015, analysts estimate that it will add more than 8,000 new “green collar” jobs to the Maryland economy.
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MA – Patrick Urges More State Action to Develop Renewable Energy. Gov. Deval Patrick says Massachusetts is doing all it can to turn itself into a renewable energy powerhouse. Patrick said the Legislature is nearing completion of a bill that will force energy companies to work more aggressively with Massachusetts companies to lower their energy costs. At the same time, the governor says the state economy can see a boon by producing new light fixtures, solar power panels and shifting to new power sources. The clean energy sector employs 14,000 people in Massachusetts and is growing.
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GENERAL NEWS

NC – Easley Welcomes New Jobs. Gov. Mike Easley announced that GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy will expand their operations in New Hanover County. The company designs nuclear reactors. The expansion will mean an investment of $704 million and the creation of 900 jobs over five years. The average salary for the new jobs will be $85,000 a year. GE currently employs more than 4,400 workers in North Carolina. Easley praised the partnership between GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy and Cape Fear Community College which provides training for technicians in the facility.
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WV – Manchin Welcomes Safety Belt Performance Grant. A $5 million federal grant will help to put computers in police cars. The Department of Transportation says the money is West Virginia’s reward for joining four other states in achieving a seatbelt use rate above 85 percent in 2006 and 2007. Gov. Joe Manchin says “We’re very proud of the number of West Virginians who’ve recognized how easy it is to buckle up to save lives.” West Virginia officials plan to use some of the grant funding to pay for laptop computers for use in police cars, which help report crash data more accurately and more quickly.
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