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	<title>Unshackle Upstate Blog</title>
	<link>http://blog.unshackleupstate.com</link>
	<description>Just another WordPress weblog</description>
	<lastBuildDate>Fri, 24 Feb 2012 14:03:15 +0000</lastBuildDate>
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		<title>Does Debt Bother You?</title>
		<description><![CDATA[So here is a question that I think I know the answer to,  but will ask anyway:
Does the fact that 17 cents out of every tax dollar collected by the state goes to debt service  bother you?
I am pretty sure the answer is “YES.”  In fact it is probably “HELL YES!”  We are a country [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://blog.unshackleupstate.com/2012/02/does-debt-bother-you/</link>
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		<title>To Business: Stay and Fight</title>
		<description><![CDATA[There is an economic theory that asserts that consumers (taxpayers) can essentially shop for compatible government as they’d shop for a car or a television. What that means is that each of us make significant decisions based on the costs versus benefits (taxes versus services). In other words, who offers the most bang for our [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://blog.unshackleupstate.com/2012/02/to-business-stay-and-fight/</link>
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		<title>Thoughts From a Reader</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Thomas Jefferson tells us that there can be no such thing as government for dummies, yet we are but one election away from proving him wrong. This is what he said. “If a nation expects to be ignorant and free, in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be.” I [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://blog.unshackleupstate.com/2012/02/thoughts-from-a-reader/</link>
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		<title>Mandate of the Day (Week 4)</title>
		<description><![CDATA[We spend a lot of time talking about mandate relief.  Probably more than we should.  But mandates are just so…costly that we are compelled to cover them.
So what is a mandate?  A mandate is a law or regulation passed by the legislature that often must be implemented by local agencies with no funding from the [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://blog.unshackleupstate.com/2012/02/mandate-of-the-day-week-4/</link>
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		<title>Let’s Get On Board with Tier VI Reform</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Even though I know what all the hoopla is about, I still don't understand the reason for the fuss.

I'm talking about all the controversy around Gov. Cuomo's Tier VI proposal, which is sensible, much-needed reform. ]]></description>
		<link>http://blog.unshackleupstate.com/2012/02/lets-get-on-board-with-tier-vi-reform/</link>
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		<title>Albany: A First Timer’s Feedback</title>
		<description><![CDATA[This week, I experienced my first tin cup Tuesday, and my first ever visit to Albany while the legislature was in session.  Tuesdays in Albany are known for their “tin cups” because of how many advocacy groups show up to talk to members that day.  Most groups are asking for money (thus the tin cup) [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://blog.unshackleupstate.com/2012/02/albany-a-first-timers-feedback/</link>
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		<title>The Chief Judge Gets It? Do Others?</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Yesterday, Chief Judge Jonathan Lippman delivered the annual State of the  Judiciary Address at Court of Appeals Hall in Albany.  During his speech,  Chief  Judge Lippman outlined his 2012 legislative priorities. Notably, these include  “setting a new vision for how we in the New York State court system might better  serve [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://blog.unshackleupstate.com/2012/02/the-chief-judge-gets-it-do-others/</link>
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		<title>What do They Really Care About?</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Last week, Binghamton Mayor Matthew Ryan attacked the State’s current proposal to finally bring real reform to our pension system. This is the second time an elected official, the first being Comptroller DiNapolli,  has come out against the issue of 401Ks.   It is also the second time an official has failed to point out the [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://blog.unshackleupstate.com/2012/02/what-do-they-really-care-about/</link>
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		<title>Mandate of the Day (Week 3)</title>
		<description><![CDATA[We spend a lot of time talking about mandate relief.  Probably more than we should.  But mandates are just so…costly that we are compelled to cover them.
So what is a mandate?  A mandate is a law or regulation passed by the legislature that often must be implemented by local agencies with no funding from the [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://blog.unshackleupstate.com/2012/02/mandate-of-the-day-week-3/</link>
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		<title>Fact Check</title>
		<description><![CDATA[The CSEA (The Civil Service Employees Union) just launched a campaign against Governor Cuomo’s budget proposal.  They have a less than informative commercial that claims the budget has no transparency, erodes decent jobs, harms communities, and diminishes services.
First, let’s be clear.  The governor’s budget plan holds the line on spending and avoids increases on any [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://blog.unshackleupstate.com/2012/02/fact-check/</link>
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