Andrea Batista Schlesinger

Google this, Albany.

Dysfunction is no longer an excuse.

Today DMI released "Fighting for New York's Middle Class: 2001-2005 NY State Legislative Scorecard."

We give every member of the New York State legislature a grade based on how they voted on bills of importance to strengthening and expanding our state's middle class from 2001 to 2005.

Yes, you heard me. We are grading Albany legislators, participants in the most dysfunctional state legislature in the country.

Look, just because the legislature is dysfunctional doesn't mean it is harmless. Every day state legislators make decisions that impact the lives and livelihoods of their residents, determining if and how New Yorkers can realize the American Dream. The problem is: nobody knows what those decisions are.

So in the name of accountability, today we are not only releasing our scorecard, but also a 30-day Google Ad word campaign highlighting the scores of every member of the legislature.

If you google your state legislator, or discuss a New York legislator on a "GMail" email account, you will be instantly informed of his/her grade on DMI's scorecard and provided a link to follow for more information.

We know this won't make us popular. Surely one of the reasons that the power of incumbency is so strong in our country is that very few actually know what their local legislators are voting on. But it's time to break that chain and make information as available as possible, otherwise we'll have no hope for creating the political will for reform.

If you want a print copy of "Fighting for New York's Middle Class: 2001-2005 NY State Legislative Scorecard," email us at dmi@drummajorinstitute.org.

You can download it and print here.

Or, you can hang out at our blog-friendly Online Edition, and access bill descriptions and see how your legislators voted. You can even download our Excel file data sheet and sort it any way you wish (as long as you credit DMI).

Public policy works best when elected officials know their constituents are watching. DMI is committed to creating the tools that enable working New Yorkers to know how their representatives are working to strengthen and expand New York's middle class.

(ps. For more on the middle class read here).

And now we invite you to discuss.

UPDATE: Discussion taking place.
Albany Times Union - "State Politics Clicks With 'Googling'"
MyDD - Holding State Legislators Accountable
John Battelle's Searchblog - AdWords As Political Weapon
The Politicker - Google Grades
Tom Watson - Googling Joe Bruno
WebProNews - NY Politicians Bought With AdWords
New York Press: Follow the Leader Blog - Googling For The Middle Class
202 Accepted - DMI Google Ad Buy

New!

Personal Democracy Forum - Google for Politics, 101
Progressive Legislative Action Network: Daily Plan - Drum Major Leads
ClickZ Network - Search the Senators
Daily Gotham - The Drum Major Institute has done something wonderful
North Country Gazette - Sen. Krueger Rates Perfect In Fighting For Middle Class

More...
MSNBC Clicked - Google Joe Bruno
Searchviews - Think Tank Drums up AdWords Campaign to Grade Politicians
Perceptrip - Politics will never be the same

Working Families Party Man - The Drum Major Institute has done such a cool thing!

Andrea Batista Schlesinger: Author Bio | Other Posts
Posted at 12:44 PM, Mar 15, 2006 in Middle-class squeeze | New York
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