Some of the Southern Tier region’s state legislators did well, but others lagged behind on Unshackle Upstate’s 2011-2012 legislative scorecards released Aug. 22, grading lawmakers on their support of pro-growth policies.

Unshackle Upstate, which describes itself as a coalition of businesses and trade organizations advocating for reforms to make Upstate a stronger place in which to do business, uses the scorecards to grade legislators on their legislative and budget votes as well as sponsorship of targeted bills during the 2011 and 2012 legislative sessions.

In the Greater Binghamton region, Assemblyman Gary Finch, a Republican from Assembly District 123, scored 93 out of 100 for voting against measures to increase the minimum wage and suspend hydraulic fracturing and for sponsoring legislation such as the Power NY Act 2011. Power NY is an omnibus energy package that encourages new investments in electric-generating facilities across New York. Finch’s district includes portions of Broome, Chenango, and Tioga counties.

Donna Lupardo, a Democrat representing Assembly District 126, didn’t fare as well, but did better than most in her party, scoring 58 out of 100 points. Unshackle noted that Lupardo — whose district includes the city of Binghamton and towns of Vestal and Union — supported several measures unfavorable to taxpayers and economic/business growth including increasing the minimum wage and suspending hydraulic fracturing.

“I have a very good working relationship with the local business community and am a leading voice for the emerging innovation based economy in our area,” Lupardo said in an emailed statement, responding to the Unshackle grade. “Of the 91 Assembly majority [Democrat] members scored by Unshackle Upstate, I had the 6th highest score. I strive to balance a number of interests and believe that my constituents appreciate that approach,” she said, 

State Sen. James L. Seward, a Republican representing the 51st Senate District that includes portions of the Southern Tier, was among the state’s high scorers on the Unshackle scorecard, receiving a grade of 94 out of 100. Unshackle lauded his votes in favor of the Power NY Act, property-tax caps, as well as his sponsorship of legislation to cap property taxes, establish an unemployment base period, and to eliminate the corporate franchise tax on manufacturing.

State Sen. Thomas Libous, Republican of District 52 serving Broome, Tioga, and Chenango counties, scored 88 out of 100. He was scored up by Unshackle for sponsoring and voting for the property-tax cap as well as his state-budget votes, among other items. Libous lost points for voting for physician collective-bargaining legislation and pension-amortization legislation.

Unshackle says its scorecards are timely for taxpayers to take notice of as they get ready to make their voting decisions.

 “As primary and election day draw near, it’s very important for taxpayers to have a comprehensive guide that shows which
legislators have truly dedicated themselves to unlocking New York’s economic potential,” Brian Sampson, executive director of Unshackle Upstate, said in a news release. “We’re encouraged to see that many legislators have responded to their constituents by supporting two consecutive fiscally responsible state budgets and several pro-taxpayer initiatives such as the 2 percent property-tax cap and pension reform.”

In general, Sampson said, this year’s scorecard grades are higher than those his organization handed out in 2010.

The scorecard grades consist of points awarded or lost based on legislators’ sponsorships and floor votes on bills that Unshackle either supported or opposed.

Louis Santoni, president and CEO of the Greater Binghamton Chamber of Commerce, encouraged people to check how their area representatives scored.

“The Unshackle Upstate scorecard serves as an important benchmark for the progress made in Albany over the last two years,” he said in the news release. “Increasing scores signal that our legislators are starting to understand the challenges confronting businesses and taxpayers.”

The full listing of legislators and their scores is available online at http://www.unshackleupstate.com/legislative-activity/scorecards/.       

Contact DeLore at tdelore@tgbbj.com