ALBANY -- St. Lawrence County Clerk Patty Ritchie, who led a petition drive against Albany's requirement for new license plates that garnered 100,000 signatures, is today raising concerns over the lack of action during this week's special budget session to repeal the requirement.

Lawmakers, including those who originally supported the plan, had pledged to reverse the mandate-and Gov. Paterson agreed-but no steps were taken before the Legislature left town for the year, and the state is moving ahead with production of 12 million new license plate sets, at a cost of more than $30 million.

In a letter to her fellow County Clerks, who unanimously rejected the license plate reissue plan and organized public opposition, Ritchie says flatly, "It appears our battle to protect the hardworking taxpayers from this needless and costly plate reissue requirement is far from over."

"Lawmakers vowed to take steps to repeal the license reissue mandate during their special session to address the budget gap. Their failure to act, coupled with Gov. Paterson's decision to go ahead with production of the new plates, raises serious concerns as to Albany's commitment to actually follow through on its promise," Ritchie said.

In her message to her fellow County Clerks, Ritchie included a letter that was signed by 11 Senators who originally backed the plan, but since said they wanted the license plate requirement repealed during the just-concluded budget deficit session. But no action was taken, and the mandate remains on the books.

"While we work to address the State's multi-billion dollar budget deficit, we feel it is imperative to make up the $129 million this plan would generate by cutting spending in other areas," said the letter, which was signed by Northern NY Senator Darrel Aubertine, among others.

Lawmakers did not identify any cuts to replace the license plate mandate, and they did not repeal the requirement.

State officials said they will go ahead and manufacture the new plates, at a cost of more than $30 million for the 12 million cars, trucks, motorcycles, trailers and ATVs.

In media statements, Sen. Aubertine said he voted for the plate reissue requirement, even though he opposed it, and promised to work towards its repeal:

"As we work on the deficit reduction, we have an opportunity to eliminate this burden on Upstate New Yorkers and businesses. My Upstate colleagues and I believe we can work with the governor to find other ways to make up the revenue from this proposal before it goes into effect."

Similarly, Assemblywoman Addie J. Russell, the only other North Country lawmaker who voted for the license reissue plan, agreed, specifically citing the Clerks' repeal effort:

"North Country residents have had their voices heard in Albany as evidenced by the unanimous decision to cancel the proposed license plate replacement plan. I am pleased that the advocacy surrounding this issue has been successful."

Ritchie said County Clerks will discuss their next steps at a meeting scheduled for next week on Staten Island.