Fort Hamilton Station, NY (10/15/13) The Conservative Party released its ratings for the 2013 Legislative Session today in order to keep the electorate knowledgeable of how their legislators voted on 24 key bills acted upon in the 2012 Legislative Session. One bill, the NY SAFE ACT, was double rated.

The Conservative Party tracks legislation throughout the session, issues support and opposition memos, and determines, at an executive committee meeting, which key issues including spending, crime, education, nanny state legislation and various other topics that affect the lives of New Yorkers, will be used. “We believe that it is necessary to keep the public informed of these key votes and let the taxpayers be aware of how elected officials spend our money. We look beyond the budget bills to consider how other legislation effects the cost of business and living in New York,” said Mike Long, State Chairman.

“A review of the twenty-four bills used in this year’s ratings will show voters where the bills passed are erroneous and costly to taxpayers and where they have helped New Yorkers,” said Long. “The ratings give voters a scorecard on how their individual legislator voted on a cross section of bills considered in the legislative session,” said Long.

“Two new Assemblymen scored 100% in this year’s scorecard. Assemblyman Kieran Michael Lalor and Assemblyman Bill Nojay both campaigned on conservative issues and both carried through as they cast votes in their first legislative Session. Senator James Seward and Senator John DeFranciso scored the highest in the Senate with 72%,” Long stated.

This year the overall New York State Senate rating is 53.26%; down from the 2012 high of 72.54%. In 2011, the Senate average was 51.22%. The overall rating of 32.3% of the New York State Assembly was also down from the 47.61% they scored in 2012. In 2011, the Assembly averaged 36.5%. In the Senate, Conservatives endorsed 2 Democrats and 29 Republicans who averaged 61.96%. In the Assembly, the 3 Democrats and 39 Republicans averaged 76.19%.

“Voters should review our ratings and remind their legislators that conservatism works for taxpayers and for businesses. Cutting taxes and regulations is the only way New York will return to its Empire State status,” Long concluded.

(Ratings are online at www.cpnys.org/node/63. If you have a problem downloading, please call:
718-921-2158 or 518-356-7882 for a copy. Thank you.)