Unshackle Upstate Releases 2018 Legislative Scorecards
September 25th, 2018
Unshackle Upstate, a pro-taxpayer, pro-business advocacy organization, today released its 2017-2018 legislative scorecards. The scorecards, available at www.unshackleupstate.com/legislative-activity/scorecards/, provide a grade for Senators and Assembly members based on their budget and legislative votes – as well as sponsorships of specific bills – during the 2017 and 2018 sessions.
“As we head toward another critical Election Day, Upstate voters deserve to know which state lawmakers are actually working to strengthen our economy,” said Michael Kracker, executive director of Unshackle Upstate. “Our new Legislative Scorecards set the record straight for voters by grading legislators based on their actions in Albany over the last two years. Voters who are concerned about jobs, taxes and the future of their community should take a long, hard look at their legislators’ grades before they head to the polls his November.”
The scorecard grades are comprised of points accumulated or lost based on legislators’ sponsorships and floor votes on bills that Unshackle Upstate either supported or opposed. A complete list of bills is available here. Votes and sponsorships were divided into four categories and graded with a maximum score of 100:
- Legislative Votes (0 to 60 points of total score) – includes floor votes
- Budget Votes (0 to 25 points of total score)– includes votes on the budget
- Sponsorship of Bills Supported by Unshackle Upstate (0 to 15 points of total score)– includes sponsorship of pro-taxpayer/pro-business legislation
- Sponsorship of Bills Opposed by Unshackle Upstate (0 to -15 points of total score)– includes sponsorship of anti-taxpayer/anti-business legislation
Prominent Upstate business leaders touted Unshackle Upstate’s legislative scorecards as an important tool for voters who are considering which candidates to support in the November election.
“We encourage all voters across the Southern Tier to review Unshackle Upstate’s Legislative Scorecards before they step into the voting booth this year,” said Jennifer Conway, president and CEO of the Greater Binghamton Chamber of Commerce. “We’re pleased to see some outstanding marks from our legislators including Senator Fred Akshar and Senator O’Mara who each had a top score of 100. If there were more pro-taxpayer champions in Albany, more Upstate communities would be thriving.”
Dottie Gallagher, president and CEO of the Buffalo Niagara Partnership said, “Upstate employers and taxpayers need state lawmakers who actually represent the interests of Upstate. Unshackle Upstate’s annual scorecard give voters an important guide to make informed decisions. Unshackle Upstate is proud to stand with the members of the State Legislature who stand with Upstate.”
Legislators should be held accountable for their votes on issues that impact jobs and our upstate economy,” said Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce president and CEO Bob Duffy. “Unshackle Upstate’s comprehensive Legislative Scorecards provides voters with a useful tool as they consider which candidates to support on Election Day.”
Brian Sampson, president of the Empire State Chapter of Associated Builders and Contractorssaid, “It is crucial that voters know where candidates stand as they head to the polls in November. Now, more than ever, we need legislators in office that represent families and businesses in Upstate New York. These Legislative Scorecards will help voters decide who to send to Albany to challenge crippling taxes, fight for more economic growth and fewer stifling mandates.”
“Unshackle Upstate has become a trusted advocate for upstate taxpayers and job creators, and our annual scorecard is one way to document the record of every state legislator,” stated Garry Douglas, President of the North Country Chamber of Commerce. “We are especially pleased that one of our North Country Senators, Betty Little, achieved a 100. As we provide these scores of each legislator’s performance this year, we are also very much at work on our agendas and priorities for 2019.”
View Senate rankings from Unshackle Upstate’s 2018 scorecards.
View Assembly rankings from Unshackle Upstate’s 2018 scorecards.