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October 20, 2007

Schumer discusses North Country issues

Border, health care among hot topics at roundtable

By KIM SMITH DEDAM

LAKE PLACID -- Spontaneous outbursts of applause punctuated a roundtable discussion with Sen. Chuck Schumer as border issues and the North Country health-care crisis took center stage.

Schumer met with about 20 area business and civic leaders doing what he called "homework" to focus his efforts in Washington.

SLOW BORDER

Plattsburgh-North Country Chamber of Commerce President Garry Douglas and Adirondack North Country Association Executive Director Terry Martino plied the senator for attention to several key issues at the Canadian border, including passport requirements and expeditious border crossings.

The amount of time it takes for entry to the United States at Champlain has nearly doubled, Douglas said, "inexplicably."

Since last year, "it takes two hours plus" to get through Customs inspection, he said.

And border agents have become rough, often crude, with people coming through, Martino said.

"It's alarming if the people around this table are being targeted as a threat," he said.

"The first homework is border exchange," Schumer said, turning to look at an aide taking notes.

Passports may become a new type of license in New York, he said. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is trying out a new type of "strong" driver's license in Washington State to relieve the need for passports to get into Canada and back.

The Washington location was picked for the trial run because of upcoming Winter Olympics in Vancouver in 2010.

"And it's working," Schumer said of the test.

He was unsure how Gov. Eliot Spitzer's pitch to license illegal aliens would affect the plan.

FUNDS FOR CVPH

The senator also gave great news to CVPH Medical Center President and Chief Operating Officer Stephens Mundy.

A $1.5 million earmark for the hospital was formally appropriated this week.

Mundy, who was at the meeting, was thrilled.

The funding, he said, would be used for necessary construction in the hospital's operating rooms and has been a standing request for three years.

"We had heard it was going in," Mundy said after the meeting, "but the president still has to sign it."

Schumer said Bush has threatened to veto all new appropriations, except for military spending.

"But we're going to sit down and reason with him."

Mundy described the medical crisis in the North Country, reiterating how hard it is to recruit and keep doctors here.

Schumer said he is working with a colleague from Alaska to double the Health Service Corps, a federal program that pays for medical school in exchange for five years of service in rural parts of the country.

CVPH doesn't qualify for benefits under Health Professional Shortage Area criteria, Mundy said.

"Why don't you?" Schumer asked.

"Because we haven't lost enough yet," Mundy said, the irony drawing some laughter.

WATER PLANT

Planners from Saranac Lake brought an $18 million question to Schumer.

The village just learned it needs to install a water-filtration plant at that price and has lost a New York State Department of Health waiver approving the current system.

"It would be better if you didn't have to do it (install the filtration plant); that's what we should really work on," Schumer said. "Some of these regulations are just dumb."

The senator said he would discuss with the Department of Health renewal of the waiver.

Affordable housing, water and sewer funding and broadband network priorities were also laid out on the table before Schumer, who said the priorities in Washington are all wrong.

"The war in Iraq has cost Americans $192 billion this year. It's half of non-domestic spending without entitlement. The priorities are all wrong. We're not putting enough money in the guts of what we have (at home)."

Schumer then continued his tour, making two other stops in the Adirondacks, in Tupper Lake and Indian Lake.

kdedam@pressrepublican.com

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