Here’s a sample of this weekend’s newspaper editorials from around the region, many of them focusing on government budget issues.<\/p>\n
The Plattsburgh Press Republican<\/a> offers guarded praise for President Barack Obama’s stimulus plan.<\/p>\n It’s futile to second-guess the program. It is here. Now, the only productive debate is whether it is doing any good.\u00a0 On that score, the stimulus has been a $96 million bonanza for the North Country.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Meanwhile, the Watertown Daily Times<\/a> editorial page says state governments are facing the stark realities of balancing budgets as stimulus spending winds down.<\/p>\n States have anticipated the loss of federal stimulus aid, but officials hoped the economy would recover and state revenues return to pre-recession levels. That hasn’t happened and some in Congress are talking about even greater reductions that will have far-reaching effects on states and local governments.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Also on the topic of groaning government budgets, the Glens Falls Post Star<\/a> is proposing that secret contract talks with public employee unions be opened to more scrutiny.<\/p>\n Given the significant financial impact on taxpayers of employee salary-and-benefits packages at all levels of government, maybe it’s time to rethink our societal acceptance of secrecy when it comes to public contract negotiations.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n