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Tag: NY-Sen-45

NY-Sen-45: Little hearts Big Pharma

By Upstate Blue, Section News
Posted on Tue Feb 20, 2007 at 03:31:50 PM EST

Elizabeth "Betty" Little (R - Queensbury), who currently represents much of the Adirondack region in the New York State Senate and is now mulling a run for the 20th Congressional Seat in 2008, appears to be largely bought off and firmly in the pockets of the pharmaceutical and health care industry. Betty Little has been on the record as opposing both Fair Share for Health Care, as well as allowing small businesses to save costs through buying their prescriptions in bulk. Both of these initiatives would have been very beneficial to the interests of the rural, economically struggling constituency she represents. As always, the money trail provides a grand explanation for all of this mischief... During Little's tenure in the State Senate she's taken $5,975 from health and pharmaceutical interests, $1,000 of which came from Pfizer. Here's a rundown of the contributions... 2003 cycle:

Empire Dental PAC gives $1,000 to Betty
Health Care Providers PAC gives $300 to Betty
Healthcare Association of New York gives $1,000 to Betty
Pharmacy PAC of New York gives $300 to Betty

2004 cycle:

Pfizer PAC gives $600 to Betty

2005 cycle:

CDPHP gives $400 to Betty
Empire Dental PAC gives $400 to Betty
Pharmacy PAC of New York gives $400 to Betty

2006 cycle:

CDPHP gives $775 to Betty
Pfizer PAC gives $400 to Betty
Pharmacy PAC of New York gives $400 to Betty

(Source: http://www.elections.state.ny.us/plsql_browser/getfiler2?filerid_in=A05335)

Besides this, as I was looking through Betty's filings, other peculiar contributions popped up -

Greenberg Traurig, the semi-corrupt lobbying firm which once employed Jack Abramoff, gave $700 to Betty in 2005. (Source)

Adirondack Publishing Company, the Saranac Lake-based owner of the Adirondack Daily Enterprise, the major newspaper in portions of Franklin and Essex Counties contributed $139 towards Betty Little's next campaign (Source)

Citizens for Public Broadcasting also contributed $600 to Betty Little in 2004. Many residents of New York's 45th Senate District get their news from North Country Public Radio, a public broadcasting affiliate, which is one of the most influential political sources in the Northern New York region. (Source)

Which in the end leads up to this big question - how can the Adirondack Daily Enterprise, as well as public broadcasting outlets provide credible and fair coverage of the upcoming 2008 45th Senate race if they're helping to financially contribute towards Betty's campaigns?

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