News Briefs: Lenox real estate taxes due; Rhodes calls on Faso to address union pensions
More InfoLenox real estate taxes due
Lenox — Lenox’s town collector Brenda Marra and Paula Downer, the town’s assistant collector, would like to remind Lenox residents that their real estate and personal property taxes are due Friday, Feb. 1. Those who need to know how much they paid in calendar year 2017 for income tax purposes can request the information from Marra at bmarra@townoflenox.com or Downer at pdowner@townoflenox.com. Due to the high volume of calls and mail during the tax season, they will be unable to provide the information over the phone. Those wishing to make a tax-deductible donation may send it to Lenox Town Scholarship, 6 Walker St., Lenox, MA 01240.
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Rhodes calls on Faso to support legislation addressing union pensions
Kingston, N.Y. — NY-19 Democratic Congressional candidate Gareth Rhodes Tuesday called on Rep. John Faso, R-Kinderhook, to publicly support and co-sponsor the Butch Lewis Act of 2017, a bipartisan bill that would help repair the nation’s union pension crisis by providing critical financial support to protect pension plans at risk of insolvency.
H.R.4444/S.2147 was introduced by Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, and Rep. Richard Neal, D-Springfield, Massachusetts, in November 2017 and has attracted the support of both Democrats and Republicans, including Rep. Peter King, R-Seaford. The legislation would create a new agency within the Department of the Treasury to protect and refinance pension plans in jeopardy.
“The working men and women of America need the unwavering support of Congress, and Rep. Faso must step up to protect the pensions that our workers have earned and deserve,” said Rhodes.
Barry Russell, principal officer of Teamsters Local 445, said, “This legislation is critical to addressing the ongoing pension crisis that will protect the hard earned money and financial security of working class families across America.”
Rhodes, running to “repeal and replace” Faso, is a former water well driller, volunteer firefighter and aide to Gov. Andrew Cuomo. Rhodes was born and raised in Ulster County and currently lives in Kerhonkson.
BIFF presents a film for our time, ‘Scrooged,’ at the Mahaiwe, with Q&A with co-star Karen Allen
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Just for chuckles I decided to look at HR4444. “Bipartisan” hardly describes a bill with 127 cosponsors when only two are Republicans and 125 Democrats. This bill, which has been introduced, would create more bureaucracy by creating a whole new Treasury Department agency whose sole purpose is to loan taxpayer money to mismanaged pension funds. Our nation is $20Trillion in debt which means our great grandchildren will still be paying that off – if we can stop the foolish spending and stop going into further debt…assuming our financial system will even survive the mess we’ve created. HR4444 and the accompanying Senate bill is bad for the country!
Also, I am not sure why one of multiple candidates who plan to run against the sitting Representative makes a statement of support for legislation that will probably never leave committee and The Edge labels it “news”. If even put in print, it should be in”Viewpoints”….your bias is showing again