2011+Senate+Ratings

2011+Assembly+Ratings

(The first 14 Bills passed both houses with one bill double rated; the last 10 passed the Senate only)

1. S. 2800-E Budget / A. 4000-E Budget: This budget bill is the State Operations Budget that cut personal service costs and reduced noncontract mandated fringe benefits by 10.1%. This bill is a good first step in reducing the cost of government in NYS that CPNYS supported.

2. S. 2809-D Budget / A. 4009-D Budget: CPNYS opposes this bill that continues to fund abortions.

3. A 6091-Wright / S. 3928 Robach: This bill extends unemployment insurance benefits. CPNYS is opposed to UI benefits being extended
because the consequences of unemployment benefits (the most conclusively established results in labor economic research) that extend either the amount or the duration of UI benefits increases the length of time that workers remain unemployed, and subsidize
unemployment by reducing the need to search for new work.

4. A. 6309-A Abbate / S. 4067 Golden: This bill seeks to allow school districts to borrow by selling bonds to pay for employer pension costs without voter approval. CPNYS opposes the bill that actually increases taxes instead of reducing spending.

5. A. 6444 Brennan / S. 5564 Rules: This bill seeks to increase the Thruway Authority’s bond authorization for the Canal System from $60 million to $160 million. CPNYS opposes the increase in bonding authority without voter approval while increasing taxes on future
generations.

6. A. 7697 Cusick / S. 3901-A Zeldin: CPNYS supported this bill that seeks to create a permit system for demonstrations occurring in the vicinity of a wake, funeral, burial or memorial services for veterans.

7. A. 7714 Abbate / S. 5317 Fuschillo: This bill seeks to require a warning label on baby-bottle and sippy-cup packaging concerning tooth decay. CPNYS opposes all nanny-state legislation.

8. A. 7763 Silver / S. 5527 Rules: This bill seeks to postpone the expiration of certain tax rates and taxes in the city of New York. CPNYS opposes any increase or extension of taxes and believes that spending must be reduced instead of increasing taxes.

9. A. 8178-A Galef / S. 3111-B Larkin: CPNYS supports this legislation that allows a certificate of death to be issued when women give birth to a stillborn child in the hope to ease the pain associated with a stillbirth.

10. A. 8031 Silver / S. 5679 Skelos: CPNYS supports the public integrity reform act and the various requirements that seek to make the Executive and Legislative branches of government more transparent to the public.

11. A 8354 O’Donnell: The bill allows couples of the same sex to marry. CPNYS did not support the bill and double rated the bill.

12. A. 8469 Weinstein / S. 5827 Bonacic: This bill seeks to amend the state constitution and allow Supreme Court Judges to work to a
maximum age of 80. Currently, Supreme Court Judges can serve until age 70 and can be reappointed for up to an additional three two-year terms allowing them to serve until age 76. CPNYS does not support any changes in the maximum retirement age of Judges..

13. A. 8518 Lopez / S. 5856 Skelos: CPNYS strongly supported a tax cap, however this bill gives localities the right to override the bill with a 2/3 vote, it also strengthen and extended rent regulations and did not give localities any mandate relief, we therefore opposed the bill.

14. A. 8520 O’Donnell / S. 5857 Rules: This bill amended the ability for same sex couples to marry by creating a “Religious” exemption for institutions. CPNYS opposed the original bill and this amendment.

15. S. 285 A Diaz: CPNYS supports this bill that reaffirms that Lottery funds are used only for education.

16. S. 450 Nozzolio: CPNYS supports this bill that seeks to repeal pistol and revolver ballistic identification databanks that are a waste of time, money and manpower.

17. S. 643 Golden: CPNYS supports this bill that seeks to create a new classification of persistent misdemeanor offender.

18. S. 709 Robach: CPNYS has consistently called for Initiative and Referendum that would allow citizens to have a greater role in government.

19. S. 923 Marcellino: CPNYS supports this bill that seeks to establish the crime of terrorism recruitment as a class C felony.

20. S . 1892 Ranzenhofer: CPNYS supports this proposal that seeks to place limitations on the amount of money that the governor may propose to spend in a given fiscal year.

21. S. 1919 Zeldin: CPNYS supports this bill that would require a two-thirds vote of the legislature for any change in tax rates, budget bills and appropriations.

22. S. 3501-B Flanagan: CPNYS supports this bill that relates to retain quality teachers when teaching positions are eliminated in school districts in a city with a population of one million or more.

23. 23S. 4208 Griffio: Relates to enacting an agreement among the states to elect the president by national popular vote. CPNYS believes that the Founding Fathers created a fair and just system when they designed the Electoral College which has served us well for over 200 years.

24. S. 5596 Zeldin: CPNYS supports this proposal to phase out the MTA payroll tax.

(The first 14 Bills passed both houses with one bill double rated; the last 10 passed the Assembly only)

1. S. 2800-E Budget / A. 4000-E Budget: This budget bill is the State Operations Budget that cut personal service costs and reduced noncontract mandated fringe benefits by 10.1%. This bill is a good first step in reducing the cost of government in NYS that CPNYS
supported.

2. S. 2809-D Budget / A. 4009-D Budget: CPNYS opposes this bill that continues to fund abortions.

3. A 6091-Wright / S. 3928 Robach: This bill extends unemployment insurance benefits. CPNYS is opposed to UI benefits being extended
because the consequences of unemployment benefits (the most conclusively established results in labor economic research) that extend either the amount or the duration of UI benefits increases the length of time that workers remain unemployed, and subsidize
unemployment by reducing the need to search for new work.

4. A. 6309-A Abbate / S. 4067 Golden: This bill seeks to allow school districts to borrow by selling bonds to pay for employer pension costs without voter approval. CPNYS opposes the bill that actually increases taxes instead of reducing spending.

5. A. 6444 Brennan / S. 5564 Rules: This bill seeks to increase the Thruway Authority’s bond authorization for the Canal System from $60 million to $160 million. CPNYS opposes the increase in bonding authority without voter approval while increasing taxes on future
generations.

6. A. 7697 Cusick / S. 3901-A Zeldin: CPNYS supported this bill that seeks to create a permit system for demonstrations occurring in the
vicinity of a wake, funeral, burial or memorial services for veterans.

7. A. 7714 Abbate / S. 5317 Fuschillo: This bill seeks to require a warning label on baby-bottle and sippy-cup packaging concerning tooth decay. CPNYS opposes all nanny-state legislation.

8. A. 7763 Silver / S. 5527 Rules: This bill seeks to postpone the expiration of certain tax rates and taxes in the city of New York. CPNYS opposes any increase or extension of taxes and believes that spending must be reduced instead of increasing taxes.

9. A. 8178-A Galef / S. 3111-B Larkin: CPNYS supports this legislation that allows a certificate of death to be issued when women give birth to a stillborn child in the hope to ease the pain associated with a stillbirth.

10. A. 8031 Silver / S. 5679 Skelos: CPNYS supports the public integrity reform act and the various requirements that seek to make the Executive and Legislative branches of government more transparent to the public.

11. A 8354 O’Donnell: The bill allows couples of the same sex to marry. CPNYS did not support the bill and double rated the bill.

12. A. 8469 Weinstein / S. 5827 Bonacic: This bill seeks to amend the state constitution and allow Supreme Court Judges to work to a
maximum age of 80. Currently, Supreme Court Judges can serve until age 70 and can be reappointed for up to an additional three twoyear terms allowing them to serve until age 76. CPNYS does not support any changes in the maximum retirement age of Judges.

13. A. 8518 Lopez / S. 5856 Skelos: CPNYS strongly supported a tax cap, however this bill gives localities the right to override the bill with a 2/3 vote, it also strengthen and extended rent regulations and did not give localities any mandate relief, we therefore opposed the bill.

14. A. 8520 O’Donnell / S. 5857 Rules: This bill amended the ability for same sex couples to marry by creating a “Religious” exemption for institutions. CPNYS opposed the original bill and this amendment.

15. A. 1157-A Schimel: CPNYS opposes this costly mandate that requires semiautomatic pistols to be capable of microstamping
ammunition.

16. A. 1306 Jeffries: CPNYS opposes all nanny state legislation including this proposal that requires those 16 years of age or over shall be restrained by a safety belt in the rear seat of cars.

17. A. 2288 Wright: CPNYS opposes this bill that will hinder police investigations thereby putting the public at risk.

18. A. 2807 O’Donnell: CPNYS opposes this bill that relates to providing health insurance coverage to domestic partners.

19. A. 4488-A Lancman: CPNYS opposes this bill that seeks to prevent domestic violence by further curtailing second amendment rights.

20. A. 5039 Gottfried: The bill seeks to prohibit discrimination based on gender identity or expression. CPNYS believes that any discrimination is wrong and that discrimination can be prosecuted under the many laws already enacted.

21. A. 6130 Wright: CPNYS opposes any bill that seeks to enforce pay equity by government mandated job comparisons.

22. A. 6451 Galef: CPNYS opposes all nanny state legislation including this proposal that prohibits any person from smoking at a playground.

23. A 7400 Sweeney: CPNYS is opposed to this bill that seeks to ban hydraulic fracturing for he extraction of natural gas or oil.

24. A. 8514 Morelle: CPNYS opposes this bill that establishes the NY Health Benefit Exchange. Essentially this bill would create a New York State “Obamacare” even if the US Supreme Court strikes down the mandated law.

 

Fort Hamilton Station, NY (10/18) The Conservative Party released its ratings for the 2010 legislative session today in order to keep the electorate apprised of how their legislators voted on 25 key bills acted upon in the current year.

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 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 often look beyond the budget bills to consider how other legislation effects school budgets, health coverage and how unfunded mandates increase the cost of doing business in New York,” said Mike Long, State Chairman.

“A review of the twenty-five bills we used in this year’s ratings will show voters where the legislature is wrong on the issues and some show where they have hindered the growth of jobs and other ways New Yorkers are forced to give up their hard earned pay”, said Long. “The ratings give voters a scorecard on how their individual legislator voted and how many times they force local governments, already reeling from previous unfunded mandates from the Legislature, to raise taxes in order to continue to pay for many programs that should be reduced, and for new programs that should not be enacted” Long continued.

“New York voters need to make choices on election day and our ratings are a microcosm of thousands of bills introduced and considered during the legislative session,” Long stated. Members were well aware of the fiscal crisis New York faced and yet the Democratic controlled Senate and Assembly did nothing to control spending, the sad fact is they raised taxes to continue spending at levels New York residents cannot sustain. They have ignored the economic reality that the revenue stream has evaporated while they continue to increase taxes on items forcing New Yorkers to find other places and ways to make their purchases. There is only one way to resolve the fiscal morass: elect officials who will cut spending. New Yorkers should review our ratings and vote for those who voted against the out of control spending and against costly programs that do not work. Unless significant changes are made, New Yorker’s will continue to leave New York as fast as they can, and those who stay won’t be able to sustain the state. Businesses that can no longer support ever increasing costs will close, and more New Yorkers will lose their jobs.” Long stated.

The 38.22% overall rating of the New York State Senate breaks down to 64.96% for Republican/Conservative Members and 13.57% for Democrat/Working Families Party Members. The Assembly, led by Speaker Sheldon Silver and the Working Families Party, who endorse a majority of the 107 Democratic Members, averaged 27.22% overall. The 42 Republican Members averaged 69.41% while the Democrats averaged a paltry 10.66%.

“When you vote on November 2, please consider these ratings and vote accordingly. You can make the difference by casting your vote for those who understand your plight,” Long concluded.

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

2010+Senate+Ratings

2010+Assembly+Ratings+for+website

(The first 18 Bills passed both houses; the last 7 passed the Senate only)

1. A.529-Destito/S.5923-Parker: This bill provides for a civil remedy for victims of bias-related violence or intimidations. CPNYS believes
discrimination against every person, religion, race, gender, ancestry, age, disability or sexual orientation is unacceptable in our society,
however, the language in this bill is extremely vague and the burden of proof will fall upon the defendant making him guilty until he proves himself innocent the exact opposite of our justice system, therefore CPNYS opposed this bill.

2. A.1470-Wright/S2311-Savino: This bill provides domestic workers with a Domestic Workers’ Bill of Rights. CPNYS believes that the contract with the individual family and the worker should be a contract between them and not subject to the labor laws designed for companies and the feasibility and practicality of collective bargaining for domestic workers is a ploy for more union representation, therefore CPNYS opposed this bill.

3. A.2374-Lancman/S2613-Klein: The bill enacts the “jury pool fair representation act” requiring the recording of demographic data on jury polls to determine whether jury pools in the state represent a fair cross-section of the community. CPNYS believes this will eventually lead to bureaucratic bungling with convictions being dismissed on the technicality of not having a fair cross-section on the jury and therefore opposed the bill.

4. A.2565-Glick/S.2664-Duane: The bill sought to provide that certain persons living with HIV or AIDS shall not be required to pay more than 30% of the household income towards shelter costs. CPNYS is consistently opposed to unfunded mandates and legislation that imposes a financial burden on localities. This bill did both, therefore CPNYS opposed it.

5. A.3065-Benjamin/S.3601-Parker: This bill seeks to require that certain day care centers provide six months notice before it intends to close. In today’s society, we understand how the immediate closing of a day care center will impact the lives of those relying on it, however, it should not be mandated to provide six months notice, especially when the municipality owns the day care center. CPNYS considers this legislation another unfunded mandate on local government.

6. A.3421-Sweeney/S4958-Thompson: This bill seeks to establish that the Dept. of Environmental Conservation create a method for
individuals and businesses to calculate their greenhouse gas emissions. The cost to implement this legislation is unwarranted and
unnecessary and even DEC recommended that this bill be vetoed. CPNYS agrees.

7. A.3661-O’Donnell/S.1987-Duane: All students are protected by Project Save, this bill seeks to create a special class of students, and we firmly believe all students need equal protection from all whom deem to bully or harm others.

8. A.5652-Rosenthal/S.1523-Duane: CPNYS is a strong proponent of traditional marriage and believes that the best environment for adopted children is in a home that supports traditional marriage.

9. A.7917-Kavanagh/S.5292-Squadron: This bill requires exercising due care in the operation of a motor vehicle to avoid colliding with any bicyclist, pedestrian or domestic animal. CPNYS believes this bill is redundant and unnecessary as current law covers traffic infractions and penalties for those who do not exercise due care.

10. A.8396-Gottfried/S.5620-Duane: CPNYS is opposed to liberalizing the syringe exchange program by allowing those who use the program to not be criminally liable for possessing syringes with drug residue.

11. A.9703-Budget/S.6603-Budget: CPNYS is opposed to taxpayer funded abortions, just one of the components in this budget bill.

12. A.9710-Budget/S.6610-Budget: This budget bill is the revenue producer that increases taxes for New Yorkers

13. A.10257-Gianaris/S.8379-Schneiderman: This bill broadens the scope of prevailing wage requirements and establishes criminal penalties for violations, thereby increasing the cost of doing business in New York State. CPNYS opposes this bill.

14. A.11104-Rules/S.7847-Rules: This bill extends until March 2011 the authority to issue bonds to fund capital spending. CPNYS opposes the constant annual authorization of issuing bonds that continue to put all New Yorkers deeper in debt.

15. A.11177-Jeffries/S.7945-Adams: This bill prohibits the recording of certain identifying information of a person stopped and questioned by police and subsequently released. CPNYS believes this will hinder police investigations thereby putting the public at risk.

16. A.11310-Rules/S.7990-Oppenheimer: CPNYS is a strong support of charter schools.

17. A.11515-Rules/S.8285-Rules: This bill contains more revenue enhancers that allow for the out of control spending taking place in New York State, including the increase in the tax on cigarettes that ultimately helps fund terrorism.

18. A.41011-Rules/S.67011-Rules: CPNYS opposes any bill that ensures continuation of appropriations to fund services and expenses in any area without making some attempt to decrease a portion of the spending.

19. S.2286-Parker: Relates to enacting an agreement among the states to elect the president by national popular vote. CPNYS believes that the Founding Fathers created a fair and just system when they designed the Electoral College which has served us well for over 200 years.

20. S.5807-Sampson: This bill seeks to increase the number of city court judges. CPNYS is opposed to this extra burden on New York taxpayers during this time of fiscal crisis.

21. S.7023-Huntley: This bill seeks to establish the division of “minority mental health” within the office of mental health. CPNYS is opposed to this extra burden on New York taxpayers during this time of fiscal crisis.

22. S.7434-Perkins: CPNYS supports all legislation that seeks to protect New York’s citizens.

23. S. 8080-Kruger: CPNYS supports all legislation that seeks to save taxpayer money which this bill would do by merging the state office of real property services into the department of taxation and finance.

24. S.8119-Adams: The bill seeks to allow casinos in five areas of New York State. CPNYS is opposed to casino gambling due to the economic tribulations it brings to surrounding areas.

25. S.8129-Thompson: The bill seeks to suspend the issuance of permits for hydraulic fracturing for the extraction of natural gas or oil. CPNYS encourages any method that would lessen our dependence on foreign countries for our energy needs while providing good jobs for New Yorkers.

(The first 18 Bills passed both houses; the last 7 passed the Assembly only)

1. A.529-Destito/S.5923-Parker: This bill provides for a civil remedy for victims of bias-related violence or intimidations. CPNYS believes
discrimination against every person, religion, race, gender, ancestry, age, disability or sexual orientation is unacceptable in our society,
however, the language in this bill is extremely vague and the burden of proof will fall upon the defendant making him guilty until he proves himself innocent the exact opposite of our justice system, therefore CPNYS opposed this bill.

2. A.1470-Wright/S2311-Savino: This bill provides domestic workers with a Domestic Workers’ Bill of Rights. CPNYS believes that the contract with the individual family and the worker should be a contract between them and not subject to the labor laws designed for companies and the feasibility and practicality of collective bargaining for domestic workers is a ploy for more union representation, therefore CPNYS opposed this bill.

3. A.2374-Lancman/S2613-Klein: The bill enacts the “jury pool fair representation act” requiring the recording of demographic data on jury polls to determine whether jury pools in the state represent a fair cross-section of the community. CPNYS believes this will eventually lead to bureaucratic bungling with convictions being dismissed on the technicality of not having a fair cross-section on the jury and therefore opposed the bill.

4. A.2565-Glick/S.2664-Duane: The bill sought to provide that certain persons living with HIV or AIDS shall not be required to pay more than 30% of the household income towards shelter costs. CPNYS is consistently opposed to unfunded mandates and legislation that imposes a financial burden on localities. This bill did both, therefore CPNYS opposed it.

5. A.3065-Benjamin/S.3601-Parker: This bill seeks to require that certain day care centers provide six months notice before it intends to close. In today’s society, we understand how the immediate closing of a day care center will impact the lives of those relying on it, however, it should not be mandated to provide six months notice, especially when the municipality owns the day care center. CPNYS considers this legislation another unfunded mandate on local government.

6. A.3421-Sweeney/S4958-Thompson: This bill seeks to establish that the Dept. of Environmental Conservation create a method for
individuals and businesses to calculate their greenhouse gas emissions. The cost to implement this legislation is unwarranted and
unnecessary and even DEC recommended that this bill be vetoed. CPNYS agrees.

7. A.3661-O’Donnell/S.1987-Duane: All students are protected by Project Save, this bill seeks to create a special class of students, and we firmly believe all students need equal protection from all whom deem to bully or harm others.

8. A.5652-Rosenthal/S.1523-Duane: CPNYS is a strong proponent of traditional marriage and believes that the best environment for adopted children is in a home that supports traditional marriage.

9. A.7917-Kavanagh/S.5292-Squadron: This bill requires exercising due care in the operation of a motor vehicle to avoid colliding with any bicyclist, pedestrian or domestic animal. CPNYS believes this bill is redundant and unnecessary as current law covers traffic infractions and penalties for those who do not exercise due care.

10. A.8396-Gottfried/S.5620-Duane: CPNYS is opposed to liberalizing the syringe exchange program by allowing those who use the program to not be criminally liable for possessing syringes with drug residue.

11. A.9703-Budget/S.6603-Budget: CPNYS is opposed to taxpayer funded abortions, just one of the components in this budget bill.

12. A.9710-Budget/S.6610-Budget: This budget bill is the revenue producer that increases taxes for New Yorkers

13. A.10257-Gianaris/S.8379-Schneiderman: This bill broadens the scope of prevailing wage requirements and establishes criminal penalties for violations, thereby increasing the cost of doing business in New York State. CPNYS opposes this bill.

14. A.11104-Rules/S.7847-Rules: This bill extends until March 2011 the authority to issue bonds to fund capital spending. CPNYS opposes the constant annual authorization of issuing bonds that continue to put all New Yorkers deeper in debt.

15. A.11177-Jeffries/S.7945-Adams: This bill prohibits the recording of certain identifying information of a person stopped and questioned by police and subsequently released. CPNYS believes this will hinder police investigations thereby putting the public at risk.

16. A.11310-Rules/S.7990-Oppenheimer: CPNYS is a strong support of charter schools.

17. A.11515-Rules/S.8285-Rules: This bill contains more revenue enhancers that allow for the out of control spending taking place in New York State, including the increase in the tax on cigarettes which ultimately helps fund terrorism.

18. A.41011-Rules/S.67011-Rules: CPNYS opposes any bill that ensures continuation of appropriations to fund services and expenses in any area without making some attempt to decrease a portion of the spending

19. A.1671-Wright: CPNYS opposes any bill that inhibits the police from doing their job.

20. A.2007-Gottfried: CPNYS believes the free market should be the only area that dictates what the cost of any item, including prescription drugs, should be.

21. A.2761-Sweeney: CPNYS opposes the use of cryopreserved embryos/gametes for stem cell research.

22. A.4272-Brodsky: The bill seeks to grant private citizens broad authority to commence civil judicial actions under the Environmental Conservative Law. This vague law would only increase frivolous lawsuits under the guise of protecting the environment.

23. A.5710-Duane: The bill seeks to prohibit discrimination based on gender identity or expression. CPNYS believes that any discrimination is wrong and that discrimination can be prosecuted under the many laws already enacted.

24. A.6468-Schimel: This bill seeks to require semiautomatic pistols to be capable of microstamping ammunition. This costly endeavor does nothing to help solve crimes and helps to further erode our 2nd Amendment rights.

25. A.10894-Kavanagh: CPNYS opposes the additional layer of bureaucracy that ultimately also erodes our 2nd Amendment rights.