The Ithaca Journal from Ithaca, New York • 9

9is The Ithaca Journal Friday, September 4, 1992 State RIEFLY Lundine gets chance to raise visibility With Cuomo visiting Israel, the lieutenant governor is in charge Lundine has assumed the duties of governor on countless other ocf casions when Cuomo has traveled around the country giving speeches though Cuomo is famous for re-turning home as quickly as possible; even if it means an all-night California. Former Gov. Malcolm Wilsonjj said Thursday he frequently was" left in charge of the state while serving as lieutenant governor from 1958-73 under former Gov. Nelson Rockefeller. During Rockefeller's "I was acting governor of the state for just short of two years," Wilson said.

He said Lundine is fulfilling the" traditional role of the governor's lieutenant: "Do what the governor wants you to I just have thai impression Stanley Lundine is afr faithful co-worker with the gover-ii nor." Holtzman pushes health plan ALBANY (AP) Democratic Senate candidates Liz Holtzman and Robert Abrams are both accusing front-runner Geraldine Ferraro of backing an unworkable universal health care plan. Health issues took center stage Thursday when Holtzman started a full day of campaigning in upstate New York by outlining her support of a single-payer universal health plan. She held a news conference outside of a busy clinic in a poor section of Albany. The New York City comptroller is challenging former vice presidential candidate Ferraro, state Attorney General Abrams and civil rights protest leader Al Sharpton in a Sept. 15 Democratic primary.

Holtzman called for a health care system that would cover all Americans and would set payment schedules for doctors, hospitals and clinics. People using the system would still be able to choose their own doctors. "This system works," she said. "It works in Canada, it works in France, it works in Sweden. There's no reason we can't take what's best in each system and make it work here." Ferraro backs a system, similar to one suggested by Democratic presidential candidate Bill Clinton, that calls on employers to provide health insurance for workers or contribute to a fund that covers health care costs for the uninsured.

Holtzman said Ferraro's proposal had never been tested, unlike the plan she backs. Chaim Herzog or touring the Golan Heights. "If past experience is any guide, (Cuomo) will call in most days," Lundine said. Things have been quiet so far, but Lundine is not complacent. "Gov.

(Pete) Wilson was out of California when the earthquake happened out there," Lundine said, referring to the 1989 quake that killed 62. "You want to be prepared in case anything like that would occur." Meanwhile, Lundine characterized this week's activities as business as usual. He spoke to the state AFL-CIO convention and was scheduled to be in New York City today for meetings on the fall campaign. He said he doesn't give much though to speculation about his political future, or what Cuomo will do if Democrats regain the White House or if he runs for re-election in 1994. "(Cuomo) and I don't talk much about it," Lundine said.

"My wife and I don't talk much about it. I'm happy doing my job as I'm doing it now and I think I'll deal with the future as it comes up, probably not until 1994." In the meantime, Lundine is planning a post-election trip to Eastern Europe, with the cost picked up by an international exchange program called People to People. Hurricanes, earthquakes, nuclear meltdowns and other disasters have not historically been a problem when Cuomo leaves New York. He traveled to the former Soviet Union in 1987 and to Japan in 1991. ALBANY (GNS) With Gov.

Mario Cuomo in Israel, Lt. Gov. Stan Lundine is New York's chief executive but he says the last thing he wants is a crisis forcing him to act like a governor. "I definitely do not want a hurricane or anything," Lundine said. "I'm not insecure about my ability Lundine to provide leadership if it's necessary." Lundine is in charge of state government this week thanks to a little-known clause in the state Constitution that says the governor ceases to be governor when he leaves the state.

Cuomo left Monday for five days in Israel. For Lundine, a former congressman and Jamestown mayor who may be the least known statewide official, it's a chance to raise his visibility a notch should he choose to run for governor some day. "Lieutenant governors are less known than vice presidents," Marist College pollster Lee Miringoff said Thursday. "It's really a different role." Lundine stepped into his new role Monday, when Cuomo departed for a long-planned trip to Israel. Until Cuomo returns on Sunday, Lundine is legally New York's governor, even though Cuomo still runs the show by telephone in between chatting with Israeli President mm- ML elisor Abrams helps campaign with loan of $200,000 Liz Holtzman But Ferraro spokesman Frank Wilkinson said a bill before Congress similar to Holtzman's calls for $300 billion in tax increases to support it.

Wilkinson also said Ferraro "does not want to spend the next 10 years wrangling in the Senate and House about creating a new federal bureaucracy to run our hospitals and doctors' offices." Asked how her health insurance system would be paid for, Holtzman said, "I don't really know the answer. I think a lot will depend possibly on the state of the economy when such a system is put into place." Abrams also favors a single-payer system, said spokesman Timothy Gilles. Abrams would fund the system at least partly through a payroll tax on businesses and set health care money aside in a trust fund, Gilles said. Gilles said Ferraro's plan would do little to solve the problems of the current system. "It's a real Band-Aid," he said.

"It's an extension of the Medicaid system." Sharpton's campaign did not return telephone calls seeking comment. last two months) and he's lost his competitive edge in fund-raising," Wilkinson said. "Fund-raising was his last competitive realm and he's been eclipsed there." But Burke called Wilkinson's allegations ridiculous, given that Ferraro lent her campaign $250,000 early on. Abrams raised $505,894 between July 1 and Aug. 23, according to the records released Thursday.

He spent $1.25 million during the period $965,000 of which went to advertising, Burke said. Ferraro raised more than $719,000 during the same period, and spent almost $1.13 million, according to her report. Wilkinson said $588,000 of that money went for TV advertising time. But Sen. Alfonse D'Amato the Republican they're vying to challenge in November had $3.8 million on hand as of Aug.

26, according to portions of his Federal Election Commission reports. D'Amato also had no outstanding debt. Holtzman had $295,237 on hand as of Aug. 26, and debts of $54,084. Ferraro had $254,861 on hand and owed $252,499.

The campaign of civil rights activist Al Sharpton did not return phone calls seeking campaign finance information, but prior reports have shown he is running on a tiny budget relative to the other Democratic challengers. QGm It Lawyers' fees studied ALBANY (AP) A state committee will recommend ways to make sure lawyer fees don't overwhelm couples going through a divorce, New York's chief judge said. The Committee to Examine Lawyer Conduct in Matrimonial Actions will consider reforms on how divorce lawyers set and collect fees, such as requiring written fee agreements and arbitration in pay disputes, Chief Judge Sol Wachtler said Thursday. I Consumer advocates have complained that lawyers who set fees by hour will sometimes drop clients when they run out of money even if the case is still unresolved, said Mary de Bourbon, a spokeswoman for the state Office of Court Administration. Women going through divorce proceedings are especially vulnerable because they will often find themselves with custody of the children and less income, she said.

Regan: Pay pension funds ALBANY (GNS) State Comptroller Edward Regan is urging the state and local governments to agree to pay billions of dollars into employee pension funds to settle a lawsuit brought by government workers who think their retirement fund has been shortchanged. But other state officials said they still plan to appeal an Aug. 10 state Supreme Court judge's ruling, which found Gov. Mario Cuomo and state lawmakers in 1990 illegally changed the amount paid into the retirement fund to save taxpayers as much as $1 billion annually. A spokesman said Regan is arguing to Cuomo and Attorney General Robert Abrams that protracted delays from appealing the case could wind up costing the state, counties and local municipalities that also contribute to the fund more money.

"If it's not resolved reasonably and quickly, the number is just going to continue to go up," said Regan spokesman Marvin Nailor. "It's not something that's just going to go away. While Nailor would not discuss specific ideas the comptroller has about where the state and municipalities might find the money, he explained that a settlement could protect them from havins to immediately pay back the billions of dollars into the fund. Building gets new name NEW YORK (AP) You can't call it the Pan Am building any more. The familiar letters atop 200 Park Ave.

reading P-A-N A-M since 1963 will be replaced by the letters M-E-T-L-I-F-E. "Since Pan Am is no longer a in the building and virtually out of business, it makes sense to replace the sign," explained Robert Schwartz, the chairman, president and chief executive officer for MetLife. MetLife bought the building in 1981 for $400 million. The 59-story building is a well-known Manhattan landmark. Swamp to be sprayed again SYRACUSE (AP) Onondaga County health officials plan to carry out a second aerial spraying of the Cicero Swamp today to prevent an outbreak of a deadly mosquito-'.

borne virus. Rain stopped health officials from spraying the swamp Thursday night. State Health Com- missioner Dr. Mark R. Chassin authorized the second spraying late Wednesday.

County Health Commissioner Dr. James Miller said the spraying is necessary to quell the outbreak of 1 the Highland virus, which is often a precursor to Eastern equine encephalitis. "We've got lots of mosquitoes and lots of virus that we regard as an early warning for EEE," Miller said at a news conference on Thursday. Ballet Theater considers merger NEW YORK (AP) The American Ballet Theatre, running a serious deficit like many other arts organizations in these recessionary times, is considering merging with another dance group to survive. A source familiar with various ABT negotiations, who spoke only on condition of anonymity, told The Associated Press Thursday that a merger with the Joffrey Ballet was among numerous options being considered.

The Joffrey's style leans toward the eclectic and the ABT toward the classical. Tenor Bass Chorus AUDITIONS for Handel's Messiah to be performed by the Cayuga Chamber Orchestra Chorus 12592 Giscle Ben-Dor, Guest Conductor, Janet Funderburk-Galvan, Chorus Master Sept. 9 10 Call 273-8981 savings opportunity: ft'PP yi WASHINGTON (AP) The three major Democratic Senate hopefuls from New York are heading into the primary with about the same amount of campaign money available about $100,000 apiece, according to their spokesmen. But New York City Comptroller Liz Holtzman might lend her campaign some money between now and the Sept. 15 primary, "although it won't be the size of the other candidates' (loans)," said Andrea Bernstein, her press secretary.

Holtzman is the only one of the three who has not made a personal loan to her campaign, Bernstein said. New York Attorney General Robert Abrams lent $200,000 to his Senate campaign in the last two months, according to financial records released Thursday. Abrams headed into the final days of the primary campaign with $783,594 on hand significantly more than either Holtzman or ex-Rep. Geraldine Ferraro, the other principal Democratic challengers. However, only about $100,000 of that total can be spent for the primary, according to John Burke, Abrams' campaign spokesman.

The remainder is available for the general election. Frank Wilkinson, a spokesman for Ferraro's campaign, said Abrams' $200,000 loan "is great news for us." "He only raised $500,000 (in the ii Original price of I "'iff Spring Summer Elerchandise Excludes Misses', Petites' and Woman's World dresses. IS1 What's For Lunch? Beginning Saturday, September 5 and every Saturday while school is in session, The Ithaca Journal will publish the area school's lunch menus. Thelthaca JOURNAL Sponsors wanted! Have your advertising message on just about every refrigerator in the area! Call Jeanette Monjak at 272-2321 for details. And don't miss this incredible Men's Young Men's shorts Dockers, Nike, Reebok, Russel, O.R, P.C.H., Levi's, Concept Clothing Co.

and more. Choose from pleated or plain front styles, belted or unbelted models. Many colors! Selection varies by store. Mil Downtown Elmira: 10-5, Fri. 10-7, Sat.

10-5, Sun. closed Arnot Mall: Sun. 12-5 Ithaca Commons: 10-6, Thurs. Fri. 10-8, Sat.

10-6, Sun. closed.