Before receiving the Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce's Person of the Year award, former state Lt. Gov. Stan Lundine took the time to acknowledge the chamber's efforts in its Public Policy Committee, many of which he endorses.
Lundine, who chaired a Commission on Local Government and Efficiency, praised the chamber for erasing the north-south boundary that continues to stand the test of time. He also backs the chamber's efforts for school consolidation, especially the failed push for Brocton and Fredonia.
He even backs a smaller Chautauqua County Legislature.
At that point in the event, some of those misguided Republican lawmakers who do not support the downsizing, looked around the room at their colleagues, put on a big smile and tried to laugh it off.
There's nothing funny about the incompetency of many of the longtime members of the Legislature. Fred Croscut and his band of misfits did nothing to reduce the Greg Edwards spending plan. Thank goodness for the Democrats.
Besides, isn't it ironic to see county legislators who are always looking out for their own interests at a banquet for the Chamber of Commerce, which actually works to boost business?
What accomplishments for business can county lawmakers, especially those in attendance at Thursday's event, point to?
Have legislators been business friendly over the past decade? Have they reached out to business and reduced taxes? Have they cut county spending?
Unfortunately, the answer to all these questions is a resounding "No." County businesses have done more with less over the past decade to stay competitive in an environment that penalizes business with higher taxes on an annual basis.
County lawmakers? They're all about the status quo and business as usual - and apparently, after Lundine's remarks about downsizing the Legislature - laughing off any real accountability.
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