THIS YEAR NEW YORK STATE BEGAN OFFERING $200 tax credits for volunteer firefighters and emergency medical workers.  It was created as an incentive to encourage volunteer participation and a recruiting inducement.

Now the state’s delegate from Franklin County has launched a campaign to try and establish similar benefits at the Federal level.  District 2 Legislator Daniel Crippen (D-Burke) has drafted a letter to President George W. Bush, U.S. Rep. John McHugh (R-Pierrepont Manor), U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) and U.S. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) seeking their support for the measure.

He said a tax credit is not only good incentive, but it is the only fair way to reward volunteers equally.  “Many young members don’t own homes, so receiving a property-tax break would not benefit them,” Crippen said.  “Nor would it be fair to the other residents of the municipality, who would have to make up the difference in taxes in exchange for the volunteers’ tax breaks.”

The Plattsburgh Press Republican has the full STORY.

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