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Saturday, May 18, 2013
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Biz group ranks legislators

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North country state legislators didn't stand out as total studs or as total busts in Unshackle Upstate's ranking of the 2011-2012 legislative session.

State Sens. Joe Griffo, R-Rome, and Patty Ritchie, R-Heuvelton, both scored 82 out of 100. They were dinged for voting against Article X legislation, the state's new power plant law that takes siting decisions out of the hands of local governments. They got credit for voting in favor of the property tax cap.

Mrs. Ritchie faces Democrat Amy Tresidder, an Oswego County legislator, on Nov. 6. Mr. Griffo has no opponent.

Assemblywoman Addie Russell, D-Theresa, scored 42 out of 100. (The lowest score for any legislator was -6.)

Unshackle deducted points from Mrs. Russell for voting in favor of the minimum wage increase and halting hydrofracking. She also voted against Article X.

Assemblyman Marc Butler, R-Newport, scored 62 out of 100. He voted against a new, less-generous pension tier for future workers, and voted to suspend hydrofracking, both of which Unshackle didn't like. Mr. Butler faces Democrat Joe Chilelli on Nov. 6.

Assemblyman Ken Blankenbush, R-Black River, topped all other current north country legislators with a ranking of 87 out of 100. He voted against all of the bills that the group didn't like — minimum wage increase, the Fair Pay Act, and a suspension of hydrofracking.

Assemblywoman Janet Duprey, R-Peru, did even better. She is running for a district that now includes the four easternmost St. Lawrence County towns. She scored a 93. She voted against a bill that would award government contracts based on "best value," instead of lowest cost. Unshackle supported it, calling the current process "penny-wise and pound foolish."

The full scorecard can be found here.

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