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After Lifton's introductory remarks a number of constituents spoke on issues or problems they hoped she will address.  Grace Allen expressed concern about state support for agriculture, and especially supporting local farmers by purchasing their products within the state.  Richard Ripple implored Lifton to vote against new taxes, and for reducing them.  Town Councilman Bud Shattuck expressed concern about the burgeoning number of not-for-profits in New York that put more tax burden on residents and for-profit businesses and pressure on local governments.  Pastor Bill Gottschalk-Fielding asked Lifton to vote against bill A5810 that provides for the immunization of all children born after January 1, 1996 against the human papillomavirus (HPV), a sexually transmitted virus.

On some issues Lifton admitted that she needed to learn more, and the discussion became somewhat academic.  On others she was able to say tell people to contact her office to take care of an issue.  And she seemed to skirt some of the issues, allowing attendees to argue the points.

Ripple was most controversial on taxes and illegal aliens.  Whenever you see a possibility of rescinding a tax, take it," he said.  "Other places are flourishing, and Ithaca is stagnating.  And I like Ithaca.  Let's do something about that."  Ripple went on to challenge Lifton to oppose driver's licenses for illegal aliens.  "I like this fellow Spitzer," he said.  "But driving licenses to illegal immigrants -- underline 'illegal' -- I don't get it.  However compassionate that might sound, we're doing a vast disservice to every kid that's growing up, to every rational adult, when they see illegal being sanctioned."

Lifton responded by outlining the reasons the licenses are being issued.  "We should do this," Lifton argued.  "We should allow immigrants who have illegal status to get their driver's licenses.  They're driving without licenses, and without licenses they are also uninsured.  There have been car accidents and we're all paying.  Just as a pragmatic issue, never mind the moral issue.  When you look at the stats there are five times more fatal accidents by these uninsured people.  The states that have done what the Governor is proposing have seen their insurance premiums go down by 20%." 

She blamed NAFTA and other global treaties for creating the situation, comparing the current wave of illegal aliens to large waves of legal immigrants in history.  "We're making it legal," she insisted.  "We're not acting illegally.  We're dealing with the political reality in front of us."  But Ripple insisted that the difference is that those immigrants legally entered the country, while the illegal immigrants of today are flaunting U.S. law, and he pressed Lifton on the moral issue.

Another citizen, Joe Riggins, argued for a pragmatic approach.  "What it comes down to is the State can't do anything about the illegal immigrants any more than the police in Cayuga Heights can do anything about it," he said.  "If this guy's going to be here I'd rather see him with a driver's license and insurance and everything that goes with it."

With an assistant to take notes and a promise to follow up on the issues raised, Lifton brought the meeting to a close, saying that she loves Lansing meetings.  She provided literature on a number of issues, including STAR property tax rebates, tax fairness, and the driver's license issue, as well as a large packet on balancing New York's upcoming budget in an economically sensible manner.  The Lansing meeting was the second of a series of six town meetings held here, Enfield, Ithaca, Cortlandville, Groton, and Caroline.

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