NYS Conservative Party Score Card

Conservative Party of New York State
Press Release ~ October 6, 2008
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Shaun Marie Levine

518-356-7882

www.cpnys.org


CONSERVATIVE RATINGS RELEASED - SUFFOLK COUNTY ASSEMBLYMAN SCORES HIGHEST

Fort Hamilton Station, NY (10/06) - The Conservative Party released its ratings for the 2008 legislative session today in order to keep the electorate apprised of how their legislators voted on 20 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 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 helped New Yorkers", 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 pay for many 'feel-good' pension sweeteners for public employees," Long continued. "Assemblyman Michael Fitzpatrick (R/C, 7th AD), a consistent conservative, scored a 95% rating. If the other 211 Members of the Legislature voted as Assemblyman Fitzpatrick votes, the State would be in much better financial shape," Chairman Long noted.

"New York is not the only place where voters face serious long-term fiscal problems," Long stated. "Every day it seems another bank or business is looking for a bailout, and most economic experts are predicting long-term financial problems due to a severe downturn in the economy that will effect our national, and especially New York's, budget. While Members were called back after the legislative session to address some of the shortfall, far more cuts in spending must be made as revenues are no longer available. New Yorkers must demand that the incoming Members cut spending across the board and eliminate costly programs that do not work. New Yorkers have been, and 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 41% overall rating of the New York State Senate and the 25% overall rating of the New York State Assembly indicate that much work must be done to improve conditions for New Yorkers. Both the major parties have become big spenders and are nearly indistinguishable. In the Senate, Conservatives endorsed one Democrat and 31 Republicans, and these endorsed Senators averaged a 50% rating. In the Assembly, 4 Democrats and 38 Republicans ran with Conservative endorsement, and these legislators averaged a 55% rating. All one has to do is look at this year's numbers to know that an election was coming. Spending was up and the ratings were down, except for Assemblyman Michael Fitzpatrick," concluded Long.

(Ratings are online at www.cpnys.org. If you have a problem downloading, please call: 718-921-2158 or 518-356-7882 for a copy of the Ratings. Thank you.)
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State Headquarters:
486 78th Street
Ft. Hamilton Station, NY 11209
718-921-2158