North Country state Sen. Betty Little, who represents eastern St. Lawrence County, is focusing on small business tax relief, abolishment of Gap Elimination Adjustment (GEA) budget cuts for schools and denying pensions for “corrupt” politicians in 2016.

She says she will advocate for tax and regulatory relief for small businesses.

“We need to grow the economy and direct more help to the hundreds of thousands of small businesses who not only provide jobs and pay taxes but are committed to the communities in which they operate,” she said.

Little represents the 45th senate District, which includes the St. Lawrence County towns of Piercefield, Colton, Hopkinton, Clare, Parishville and Lawrence, and the entire counties of Franklin, Clinton, Essex, Warren and Washington.

“I am also calling for a complete elimination of the GEA budget cuts, which currently hurt our schools, funding for invasive species eradication and more attention by the state and industry on broadband development in the counties I represent.”

Little says that denying corrupt politicians a taxpayer-funded pension is a top priority of hers and clearly very important for many reasons.

“Last March, I voted for a constitutional amendment resolution to do that. Unfortunately, the Assembly leadership did not allow a vote on what had been an agreed-to measure. I am pushing for that vote as the session gets underway.”

“I also am pushing for approval of legislation that would require motor vehicle owners be notified of any outstanding recalls on their cars or trucks at the time of their inspection,” she said. “In recent years, the number of recalls has increased dramatically. Many of us have received at least one recall notice in the mail only to find out the part needed to correct the problem wasn’t available at the dealership.”

Little says the measure she is sponsoring is intended to act as a notification and reminder of any outstanding recalls when vehicles are inspected.

“This is also important for people who buy a car from someone else, known as a private party sale. When the car is inspected, either when ownership is transferred or annually as required, the VIN can be run against a federal database of recalls, a quick and timely opportunity to communicate potentially life-saving information to the vehicle owner on their inspection report.”