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Unshackle Upstate Unveils 2010 Legislative Scorecards

New taxpayer tool grades legislators’ actions during 2009-10 session

BUFFALO, NY – Unshackle Upstate today released its legislative scorecards for the 2009-10 session. The scorecards, available at www.unshackleupstate.com/scorecard-new/, comprehensively identify which legislators acted in the best interests of New York’s taxpayers and job creators and which ones failed to do so.

“When Unshackle Upstate launched our Judgment Day campaign earlier this year, we promised to develop a comprehensive tool for voters to use when considering which candidates they should support on Nov. 2,” said Brian Sampson, executive director of Unshackle Upstate. “Today, we’re fulfilling that promise and encouraging all New Yorkers to take a long, hard look at how their legislators voted this year before they step into the voting booth.”

“It’s campaign season, and the airwaves and taxpayer mailboxes are full of state politicians’ claims of support for job growth, lower taxes and economic development – but their reality has been very different from their rhetoric,” said Andrew J. Rudnick, president and CEO of the Buffalo Niagara Partnership. “Voters are more frustrated than ever, and know legislators’ actions speak louder than what they print on a glossy postcard. Unshackle Upstate is providing tools like the scorecard to help educate voters about what their supposed representatives are and are not doing for Upstate, so they can vote accordingly on Judgment Day.”

The scorecard results consist of points accumulated or lost, as defined by sponsorships and committee and floor votes of all 212 legislators on legislation and budget bills on which Unshackle Upstate has taken a position. Votes and sponsorships were divided into four distinct categories and graded with a maximum score of 100:

• Legislative Votes (0 to 60 points of total score) - includes floor and committee 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 positive legislation (5 points for each bill sponsored with a maximum of 3 bills)
• Sponsorship of Bills Opposed by Unshackle Upstate (0 to -15 points of total score) - includes sponsorship of bad legislation (5 points deducted for each bill sponsored with a maximum of 3 bills

“The votes and sponsorships that were used to determine legislators’ grades directly impact our Upstate communities,” said Sampson. “We want taxpayers to make their own determinations as to what constitutes a passing grade. But frankly, a large number of legislators – both Republicans and Democrats – should be embarrassed by their score.”

In addition to providing this informative tool to New York’s taxpayers, Unshackle Upstate will use its 2010 legislative scorecards as just one of many tools when considering which candidates to endorse in the upcoming elections.

“During the upcoming campaign season, legislative incumbents will tour their districts and tell their constituents that their voting record demonstrates how committed they are to serving their communities. These scorecards will unquestionably take the guesswork out of determining whether legislators are being truthful with voters,” said Sampson. “Educated voters are our best weapon to stop the dysfunction in Albany and get our state back on the right track. To achieve that goal, Unshackle Upstate will continue to do everything in its power to educate the public as to which candidates deserve their vote on Judgment Day.”

View Unshackle Upstate’s complete 2010 legislative scorecards here:

ABOUT THE BUFFALO NIAGARA PARTNERSHIP

The Buffalo Niagara Partnership includes nearly 2,500 employer members, working for improved business competitiveness and expanded economic activity in the region.  The Partnership advocates, locally, and in Albany, and Washington, D.C., for policies and resources to increase private sector investment and jobs.

The Partnership also offers programs and services to its members to increase their chances for business success.