I couldn't help but note the irony when I read about Thomas Golisano's plan to create a political action committee with $5 million of his own money to force his eight-point political agenda on any candidate who will accept his PAC's donation. The irony, of course, is that Golisano is again attempting to play the part of a populist reformer - talking a good game about the need for Albany to be freed of the influence of big-money donors by becoming one of those big-money donors himself - rather than building a movement of small donors who are truly interested in reform.

Candidates considering signing on for the political contribution, and the agenda that goes along with it, should look carefully at what has been revealed so far. Most of Golisano's eight points are so broad, it would be difficult to disagree with them. It's interesting that only one of those points is so specific that it unmasks the true intent of Golisano and his corporate backers: to, once again, attack the millions of New York's public employees, their families, and their unions.

One of the agenda issues attempts to make government-employee compensation "commensurate" with private-sector employees. Rather than making a truly bold statement of calling on the private sector to invest in its workforce by offering true pensions, affordable and accessible health care, and paid leave to deal with family and health issues, Golisano instead calls for a public policy of the lowest common denominator. Rather than supporting an economic tide to lift all boats, Golisano's proposal pulls the plug on millions of working families by cutting pensions, shifting the burden of health-care costs to more working New York families, and cutting other benefits that attract workers to serve the public.

Golisano's proposal misses an opportunity to cooperate with New York workers' chosen union representatives by failing to address the academic achievement gap, real property-tax reform, and workforce investment. Golisano again fails to recognize that New York's most effective economic engine is working together to build stronger communities, strong schools, and strong public services. Golisano's agenda would do for our pubic-employee neighbors what the private-sector corporations have done for the rest of us - left us with less affordable health care, fewer pensions to live on in retirement, less time to spend with our families, a less independent voice at our workplace, and less money in our pockets to support our families.

I urge any candidate who may be considering taking Golisano's money to carefully read the warning label that should be attached: "This agenda may be bad for your community."

PATRICK DOMARATZ, ROCHESTER

Domaratz is a local labor-relations specialist with NYSUT, the labor-union federation.