Republicans fared better than Democrats in pro-business group Unshackle Upstate’s rankings of state legislators who are seeking re-election in November.
Unshackle Upstate’s Greg Biryla said overall, GOP lawmakers did better than Democrats when ranked on issues that business groups care about, such as holding the line on taxes and spending.
He said Assembly Republicans, the smallest conference, scored highest.
“They had numerous members who received 100, overall,” Biryla said. “They were the only conference to achieve that.”
The Assembly Republicans did better than Senate GOP members who lost points, because, Biryla said, most Republican senators voted for Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s proposal to increase the minimum wage to $15 an hour downstate and $12.50 elsewhere.
He said the state has two separate economics, and upstate employers will struggle to finance such a large jump in wages so quickly.
Unshackle Upstate also ranked lawmakers on whether they back cutting government red tape and reducing regulations, and continue to support of the property tax cap, which Biryla said is working.
