Live from the mandate relief hearing

OK, we're about an hour into today's mandate relief hearing at the Conference Center in Lake Placid. All of the usual suspects are here, plus a few folks from Warren and Clinton County.

Lt. Gov. Robert Duffy is moderating the meeting. Basically, local officials are testifying before the Mandate Relief Council, and council members are asking questions in return. It's sort of like a fact-finding mission.

Here's the big take-away so far: A lot of local officials support Gov. Andrew Cuomo's proposed Tier VI pension reform plan as means of mandate relief. Lake Placid village Mayor Craig Randall, Clinton County Chairman James Langley, North Elba town Supervisor Roby Politi, Essex County Manager Dan Palmer and Saranac Lake village Mayor Clyde Rabideau all say the state Legislature needs to pass the plan because it would provide meaningful relief to local municipal budgets.

I'll check in again in a little while.