VBSR releases legislative scorecard

Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility has released a Scorecard for representatives and senators who participated in the 2011-2012 Vermont legislative session.  The Scorecard indentifies VBSR’s priority votes of the biennium and ranks lawmakers according to whether or not their votes aligned with VBSR’s stance on each policy.

SEE LISTS BELOW

Daniel Barlow, VBSR Public Policy Manager, noted that this is VBSR’s second Scorecard. “This is something our business members want from us. They want to know how local legislators are voting on issues that are important to VBSR’s mission.” Barlow also noted that there are nine issues included on the Scorecard, ranging from Health Care Reform, to Pre-K Services to Energy. “For each of these issues, VBSR clearly identified our position to legislators through written handouts, testimony and email alerts prior to, and throughout, the legislative session.”

On the Scorecard, legislators who completed the session are given a “check-mark” for favorable votes and a “thumbs-down” for unfavorable votes. The card also notes, and considers unfavorable, any absences from voting sessions.  Over 60 representatives and a dozen senators received a 100% favorable rating for the votes they cast; three representatives and no senators cast zero favorable votes.

Founded in 1990, VBSR is a non-profit, statewide business trade organization with a mission to advance business ethics that value multiple bottom lines: economic, social, and environmental. VBSR members employ more than 13% of Vermont’s workforce and generate more than 4 billion dollars in revenue annually. We strive to help members set a high standard for protecting the natural, human and economic environments of the state's residents, while remaining profitable. We advance VBSR's mission through education, public influence and workplace quality. www.vbsr.org