Chamber advocates for North Country in Albany

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March 22, 2008

By DAN HEATH The Press Republican Sat Mar 22, 2008, 02:53 PM EDT

PLATTSBURGH -- Despite tremendous distraction, it was mainly business as usual during a day of North Country advocacy efforts in Albany led by the Chamber of Commerce.

Plattsburgh-North Country Chamber of Commerce President Garry Douglas said it was a very worthwhile day but also bizarre in some ways because news was breaking about Gov. Eliot Spitzer's prostitution scandal.

"All the background noise and side chatter was about that news. On a positive note, every meeting happened," Douglas said.

The lone exception was an Upstate Revitalization breakfast with Spitzer and (Empire State Development Upstate Chairman) Dan Gunderson, which was canceled. Douglas said he did have a breakfast meeting with Gunderson earlier that day, focused on Quebec-New York initiatives.

"He was entirely reassuring that our priorities will continue," Douglas said.

While many think Spitzer's proposed $1 billion Upstate Revitalization Fund was new funding, it is actually mainly existing funding that will be better targeted, based on regional blueprints that determined each area's assets and liabilities.

The North Country delegation met with local Senate and Assembly representatives, members of the governor's staff and committee heads.

HEALTH CARE

Health care was one of the focuses of the trip to Albany.

Douglas said he was pleased with Spitzer's Doctors Across New York initiative, which would use a pool of $2 million to help pay 30 percent of doctors' student loans if they work in an under-served region of the state for a minimum of two years.

"But, that doesn't solve our problem," he said. "We have to continue to make it loud and clear that the state and federal government have to do something to reform the health-insurance market."

The problem is at least partly that the reimbursement system pays large group practices in urban areas the same rates it does private practitioners in the North Country, who can't readily absorb those low reimbursement rates.

While it is clear something will be done, Douglas said that could make the situation better or worse in the North Country.

"Our main mission is to make those who mold reform understand that one size does not fit all," Douglas said.

BRUNO MEETING

He also met with State Sen. Majority Leader Joseph Bruno, who he's known since 1974. They worked together for former State Sen. Douglas Hudson.

Douglas said Bruno and State Sen. Betty Little are among those who deserve credit for including funding in the proposed legislative budget that would keep Camp Gabriels open.

Efforts also included advocating for support for the Olympic Regional Development Authority, Trudeau Institute, Adirondack Railroad, Strand Performing Arts Center and CBN Connect Broadband Network.

This was the initial North Country Day in Albany, patterned after the chamber's annual North Country Day in Washington, D.C., which is this year scheduled for May 15.

"It was valuable," Douglas said. "We will step that up next year."

dheath@pressrepublican.com