OBAMA TO ADDRESS CONGRESS TONIGHT

OBAMA TO ADDRESS CONGRESS TONIGHT by Ken Mahoney

President Barack Obama 9 o’clock tonight will address Congress and the American public, outlining his plans to steer the nation through this troubled economy. Although it’s technically not being considered a “State of the Union” address, the pressure of inspiring the country is as great as ever given rising unemployment rates and a slumping stock market. Obama’s speech will be carried live on all major broadcast T.V. networks.

CORNELL ESTABLISHES “ECONOMIC STIMULUS WORKING GROUP”

CORNELL ESTABLISHES “ECONOMIC STIMULUS WORKING GROUP”

Over a dozen local business, government and non-profit leaders met for the first time yesterday in efforts of developing a plan to stimulate Rockland’s economy. County Legislative Chairwoman Harriet Cornell is looking to this working group for advice and insight on how the legislature can foster business growth in efforts of stemming Rockland’s unemployment rate. Cornell last month highlighted the need for a more organized public-private partnership during her annual legislative address.

NEW YORKERS CAN TRACK STIMULUS MONEY THROUGH STATE WEBSITE by Ken Mahoney

NEW YORKERS CAN TRACK STIMULUS MONEY THROUGH STATE WEBSITE by Ken Mahoney

New York Comptroller Tom DiNapoli today is urging New York lawmakers not to regard the stimulus package as a bail out. DiNapoli says the state must identify long-term solutions to align spending with revenues; a task that doesn’t dissolve with a one-time infusion of added federal funding. New Yorkers will be able to track federal stimulus dollars as they course through the state by visiting DiNapoli’s website www.openbooknewyork.com.

There taxpayers will be able to view the contracts awarded and the companies receiving those contracts. The site currently features searchable databases of more than 60,000 active state contracts and spending for more than 100 state agencies and 3100 local governments.

THREE NAMES CIRCULATING AS POTENTIAL ROCKLAND COUNTY EXEC CANDIDATES by Ken Mahoney

THREE NAMES CIRCULATING AS POTENTIAL ROCKLAND COUNTY EXEC CANDIDATES by Ken Mahoney

Rockland County Executive Scott Vanderhoef this election season will likely see contest from within and outside his party if he chooses to seek a fifth four year term. Although official announcements of candidacy have yet been made, there are three major contenders who seem most likely to stake a claim to the seat. Democratic Orangetown Supervisor Tom Kleiner and Republican Legislator Ed Day are rumored to be the most likely to challenge Vanderhoef’s incumbency. If Vanderhoef decides to run again, Day would have to primary him in order to secure the Republican line in the upcoming November 3rd general election

COUNTY RESIDENTS INVITED TO COMMENT ON $121B STATE BUDGET by Ken Mahoney

COUNTY RESIDENTS INVITED TO COMMENT ON $121B STATE BUDGET by Ken Mahoney

County residents one week from today will have an opportunity to comment on the Governor’s proposed $121 billion dollar state budget. Rockland’s entire state legislative delegation is sponsoring the public hearing, which will begin 2PM Thursday, February 12th at the Suffern Library. Participants will each be given three minutes to speak.

State lawmakers are now struggling to approve spending cuts for the next fiscal year as they wrestle with ways to make up for a $15.4 billion dollar current year deficit. Both houses Tuesday agreed to $1.6 billion in cuts to plug up an addition budgetary shortage spanning 2007-2008.

Six more weeks of winter, Groundhog Day

PUNXSUTAWNEY PHIL PREDICTS ANOTHER SIX WEEKS OF WINTER by Ken Mahoney

People throughout the region earlier today turned their attention to Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania where a groundhog named Phil ventured out of his hole and saw his shadow; something the 123 year-old tradition regards a sign of a longer winter- six weeks longer to be exact. Over the years, Punxsutawney Phil’s seen his shadow about 85% of the time. 1999 was the last time he did not