Legislative voting patterns for the 2015-2016 NYS Senate

BACKGROUND
New York StateWatch provides its subscribers with legislative intelligence tools that include analysis of legislative voting
patterns, such as how often a legislator votes with the prevailing side, statistical similarities in voting and positions on key
issues. The data presented here, which highlights voting by senators in 2015 and 2016, represents a snapshot of the database
of information maintained by StateWatch.
The following collection of Senate floor vote information is presented without a value judgment or critique.

HIGHLIGHTS
The most frequent opponent to the legislation put forth by the Senate Majority in 2016 was Sen. Bill Perkins (D), who voted
nay 344 times out of a possible 1822 floor votes. Sen. John Bonacic (R) led his Republican colleagues with 55 nay votes,
which was more than six members of the Democratic Conference who served the entire session.
Sen. Adriano Espaillat (D), who had a Congressional primary this summer, missed 102 votes during the 2016 session. During the
same session, Sen. Ruben Diaz (D) missed 1511 votes, with 97.9 percent of those votes coming in May and June. Sen. Michael
Nozzolio (R), who had heart surgery in April, missed 404 votes during the recent session, which was fewer than Sen. Marc
Panepinto (D), who missed 503 votes.
Sen. David Valesky (D), who is a member of the Independent Democratic Conference (IDC), voted aye more times than 29
Senate Republicans in 2016. Sen. Joseph Addabbo (D) voted aye more times than any other member of the Senate
Democratic Conference.
During the 2015 and 2016 legislative sessions, Senate Majority Leader John Flanagan (R) voted with a majority of Democratic
Senators approximately 97 percent of the time and more often than four of the IDC members. Conversely, Senate Democratic
Conference Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins (D) voted with a majority of her Republican colleagues about 96 percent of the
time during the same period.

ABOUT
StateWatch has operated in New York since 2002. New York StateWatch is a non-partisan legislative intelligence service used
by government affairs professionals with interests in New York State government.

Voted Aye in 2016

Rank

Senator

Party

Conference

Votes

Percent

Rank

1
2
2
4
5

Flanagan, John J.
Boyle, Philip M.
Valesky, David J.
Farley, Hugh T.
Felder, Simcha
Amedore, Jr., George
A.
Golden, Martin J.
Little, Elizabeth OC.
Ritchie, Patricia A.
Young, Catharine M.
Hannon, Kemp
Gallivan, Patrick M.
Funke, Rich
OMara, Thomas F.
Martins, Jack M.
Robach, Joseph E.
Marcellino, Carl L.
Serino, Susan J.
Addabbo, Jr., Joseph
P.
Lanza, Andrew J.
Venditto, Michael
Akshar, Fred
Ranzenhofer, Michael
H.
Klein, Jeffrey D.
Latimer, George S.
Murphy, Terrence P.
Griffo, Joseph A.
LaValle, Kenneth P.
Avella, Tony
Carlucci, David
Kennedy, Timothy M.
Savino, Diane J.
DeFrancisco, John A.
Bonacic, John J.
Stewart-Cousins,
Andrea
Ortt, Robert G.
Stavisky, Toby Ann
Gianaris, Michael N.
Breslin, Neil D.
Peralta, Jose R.
Dilan, Martin Malave
Marchione, Kathleen
A.
Serrano, Jose M.

R
R
D
R
D

REP
REP
IDC
REP
REP

1822
1817
1817
1816
1811

100.0%
99.7%
99.7%
99.7%
99.4%

R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R

REP
REP
REP
REP
REP
REP
REP
REP
REP
REP
REP
REP
REP

1808
1807
1807
1807
1805
1805
1800
1799
1799
1798
1798
1797
1796

99.2%
99.2%
99.2%
99.2%
99.1%
99.1%
98.8%
98.7%
98.7%
98.7%
98.7%
98.6%
98.6%

44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52

D
R
R
R

DEM
REP
REP
REP

1795
1794
1794
1791

98.5%
98.5%
98.5%
98.3%

R
D
D
R
R
R
D
D
D
D
R
R

REP
IDC
DEM
REP
REP
REP
IDC
IDC
DEM
IDC
REP
REP

1791
1790
1789
1789
1788
1786
1785
1783
1780
1780
1775
1767

98.3%
98.2%
98.2%
98.2%
98.1%
98.0%
98.0%
97.9%
97.7%
97.7%
97.4%
97.0%

D
R
D
D
D
D
D

DEM
REP
DEM
DEM
DEM
DEM
DEM

1767
1761
1749
1747
1723
1701
1699

97.0%
96.7%
96.0%
95.9%
94.6%
93.4%
93.2%

R
D

REP
DEM

1693
1681

92.9%
92.3%

6
7
7
7
10
10
12
13
13
15
15
17
18
19
20
20
22
22
24
25
25
27
28
29
30
31
31
33
34
34
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43

53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63

Senator

Squadron, Daniel
Comrie, Jr., Leroy G.
Rivera, J. Gustavo
Hamilton, Jesse E.
Espaillat, Adriano
Croci, Thomas D.
Larkin, Jr., William J.
Persaud, Roxanne J.
Hoylman, Brad M.
Hassell-Thompson,
Ruth
Sanders, Jr., James
Montgomery,
Velmanette
Krueger, Liz
Seward, James L.
Perkins, Bill
Kaminsky, Todd*
Nozzolio, Michael F.
Parker, Kevin S.
Panepinto, Marc C.
Diaz, Ruben M.

Party

Conference

Votes

D
D
D
D
D
R
R
D
D

DEM
DEM
DEM
DEM
DEM
REP
REP
DEM
DEM

1673
1656
1646
1644
1638
1635
1628
1620
1613

91.8%
90.9%
90.3%
90.2%
89.9%
89.7%
89.4%
88.9%
88.5%

D
D

DEM
DEM

1579
1578

86.7%
86.6%

D
D
R
D
D
R
D
D
D

DEM
DEM
REP
DEM
DEM
REP
DEM
DEM
DEM

1572
1571
1465
1445
1430
1416
1363
1280
303

86.3%
86.2%
80.4%
79.3%
78.5%
77.7%
74.8%
70.3%
16.6%

Percent

NOTE: Percentages are based on all floor votes, including votes

when a senator might have been absent or excused. Additionally,
the floor vote totals includes the Senates one-house budget
resolution.
*Sworn in on May 3, 2016

Voted Nay in 2016

Rank

Senator

Party

Conference

Votes

Percent

Rank

Senator

Party

Conference

Votes

Percent

1
2

Perkins, Bill
Krueger, Liz
Montgomery,
Velmanette
Hoylman, Brad M.
Rivera, J. Gustavo
Hassell-Thompson,
Ruth
Squadron, Daniel
Comrie, Jr., Leroy G.
Sanders, Jr., James
Dilan, Martin Malave
Hamilton, Jesse E.
Serrano, Jose M.
Parker, Kevin S.
Persaud, Roxanne J.
Espaillat, Adriano
Gianaris, Michael N.
Stavisky, Toby Ann
Peralta, Jose R.
Stewart-Cousins,
Andrea
Bonacic, John J.
Kaminsky, Todd *
DeFrancisco, John A.
Breslin, Neil D.
Kennedy, Timothy M.
Panepinto, Marc C.
Carlucci, David
Avella, Tony
LaValle, Kenneth P.
Croci, Thomas D.
Ortt, Robert G.
Griffo, Joseph A.
Latimer, George S.
Murphy, Terrence P.
Akshar, Fred
Ranzenhofer, Michael
H.
Savino, Diane J.
Lanza, Andrew J.
Addabbo, Jr., Joseph P.
Serino, Susan J.
Larkin, Jr., William J.
Funke, Rich

D
D

DEM
DEM

344
251

18.9%
13.8%

D
D
D

DEM
DEM
DEM

249
182
176

13.7%
10.0%
9.7%

D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D

DEM
DEM
DEM
DEM
DEM
DEM
DEM
DEM
DEM
DEM
DEM
DEM
DEM

172
149
135
131
123
112
102
93
92
82
75
73
71

9.4%
8.2%
7.4%
7.2%
6.8%
6.1%
5.6%
5.1%
5.0%
4.5%
4.1%
4.0%
3.9%

D
R
D
R
D
D
D
D
D
R
R
R
R
D
R
R

DEM
REP
DEM
REP
DEM
DEM
DEM
IDC
IDC
REP
REP
REP
REP
DEM
REP
REP

55
55
50
47
42
42
39
39
37
36
34
34
34
33
33
31

3.0%
3.0%
2.7%
2.6%
2.3%
2.3%
2.1%
2.1%
2.0%
2.0%
1.9%
1.9%
1.9%
1.8%
1.8%
1.7%

40
43
43
45
46
47
47
49
49
49
52
52
54
55
56
57
58
59
59
59
62
63

O'Mara, Thomas F.
Marcellino, Carl L.
Gallivan, Patrick M.
Martins, Jack M.
Young, Catharine M.
Hannon, Kemp
Klein, Jeffrey D.
Golden, Martin J.
Little, Elizabeth O'C.
Ritchie, Patricia A.
Venditto, Michael
Amedore, Jr., George A.
Marchione, Kathleen A.
Seward, James L.
Felder, Simcha
Diaz, Ruben M.
Farley, Hugh T.
Robach, Joseph E.
Boyle, Philip M.
Valesky, David J.
Nozzolio, Michael F.
Flanagan, John J.

R
R
R
R
R
R
D
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
D
D
R
R
R
D
R
R

REP
REP
REP
REP
REP
REP
IDC
REP
REP
REP
REP
REP
REP
REP
REP
DEM
REP
REP
REP
IDC
REP
REP

23
22
22
21
17
16
16
15
15
15
14
14
13
12
10
8
6
5
5
5
2
0

1.3%
1.2%
1.2%
1.2%
0.9%
0.9%
0.9%
0.8%
0.8%
0.8%
0.8%
0.8%
0.7%
0.7%
0.5%
0.4%
0.3%
0.3%
0.3%
0.3%
0.1%
0.0%

R
D
R
D
R
R
R

REP
IDC
REP
DEM
REP
REP
REP

31
29
28
27
26
23
23

1.7%
1.6%
1.5%
1.5%
1.4%
1.3%
1.3%

3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
19
21
22
23
23
25
25
27
28
29
29
29
32
32
34
34
36
37
38
39
40
40

NOTE: Percentages are based on all floor votes, including votes

when a senator might have been absent or excused. Additionally,
the floor vote totals includes the Senates one-house budget
resolution.
*Sworn in on May 3, 2016

Excused from voting in 2016

Absent from voting in 2016

Rank

Senator

Party

Conference

Votes

Rank

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11

Diaz, Ruben M.
Panepinto, Marc C.
Nozzolio, Michael F.
Seward, James L.
Parker, Kevin S.
Larkin, Jr., William J.
Croci, Thomas D.
Marchione, Kathleen A.
Sanders, Jr., James
Persaud, Roxanne J.
Espaillat, Adriano
Hassell-Thompson,
Ruth
Hamilton, Jesse E.
Breslin, Neil D.
Peralta, Jose R.
Serrano, Jose M.
Perkins, Bill
Comrie, Jr., Leroy G.
Hoylman, Brad M.
Ortt, Robert G.
Robach, Joseph E.
Klein, Jeffrey D.
Venditto, Michael
Savino, Diane J.
Marcellino, Carl L.

D
D
R
R
D
R
R
R
D
D
D

DEM
DEM
REP
REP
DEM
REP
REP
REP
DEM
DEM
DEM

1510
448
404
345
336
170
153
115
111
102
94

DEM

71

1
2
3
3
5
6
7
7
7
7
7
7

D
D
D
D
D
D
D
R
R
D
R
D
R

DEM
DEM
DEM
DEM
DEM
DEM
DEM
REP
REP
IDC
REP
IDC
REP

65
57
50
39
33
31
27
27
19
16
14
12
3

12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
19
21
22
23
24
25

7
7

Senator

Panepinto, Marc C.
Parker, Kevin S.
Persaud, Roxanne J.
Espaillat, Adriano
Martins, Jack M.
Sanders, Jr., James
Diaz, Ruben M.
Marchione, Kathleen A.
Hamilton, Jesse E.
Savino, Diane J.
Felder, Simcha
Hannon, Kemp
Montgomery,
Velmanette
Larkin, Jr., William J.

Party

Conference

Votes

D
D
D
D
R
D
D
R
D
D
D
R

DEM
DEM
DEM
DEM
REP
DEM
DEM
REP
DEM
IDC
REP
REP

55
30
8
8
3
2
1
1
1
1
1
1

DEM

REP

Voted with majority of Democratic Senators 2015-2016

RANK

SENATORS

PARTY

CONFERENCE

VOTES

RANK

SENATORS

PARTY

CONFERENCE

VOTES

Stewart-Cousins, Andrea

DEM

3448

41

Peralta, Jose R.

DEM

3295

Stavisky, Toby Ann

DEM

3445

42

DeFrancisco, John A.

REP

3291

Latimer, George S.

DEM

3443

43

Comrie, Jr., Leroy G.

DEM

3285

Addabbo, Jr., Joseph P.

DEM

3422

44

Hamilton, Jesse E.

DEM

3269

Gianaris, Michael N.

DEM

3419

45

Marchione, Kathleen A.

REP

3251

Valesky, David J.

IDC

3412

46

Espaillat, Adriano

DEM

3238

Kennedy, Timothy M.

DEM

3412

47

Rivera, J. Gustavo

DEM

3216

Flanagan, John J.

REP

3403

48

Hoylman, Brad M.

DEM

3207

Carlucci, David

IDC

3396

49

Sanders, Jr., James

DEM

3190

10

Savino, Diane J.

IDC

3395

50

Croci, Thomas D.

REP

3184

11

Boyle, Philip M.

REP

3394

51

Larkin, Jr., William J.

REP

3179

12

Farley, Hugh T.

REP

3393

52

Krueger, Liz

DEM

3127

13

Avella, Tony

IDC

3392

53

Montgomery, Velmanette

DEM

3092

13

Klein, Jeffrey D.

IDC

3392

54

Seward, James L.

REP

3039

15

Felder, Simcha

REP

3386

55

Nozzolio, Michael F.

REP

2986

15

Golden, Martin J.

REP

3386

56

Hassell-Thompson, Ruth

DEM

2957

17

Little, Elizabeth O'C.

REP

3383

57

Parker, Kevin S.

DEM

2832

18

Ritchie, Patricia A.

REP

3380

58

Perkins, Bill

DEM

2801

19

Hannon, Kemp

REP

3378

59

Panepinto, Marc C.

DEM

2792

20

Robach, Joseph E.

REP

3377

60

Akshar, Fred **

REP

1738

21

Marcellino, Carl L.

REP

3375

61

Diaz, Ruben M.

DEM

1678

22

Young, Catharine M.

REP

3372

62

Persaud, Roxanne J. **

DEM

1651

23

Gallivan, Patrick M.

REP

3368

63

Skelos, Dean G. *

REP

1618

24

Venditto, Michael

REP

3366

64

Sampson, John L. *

DEM

1566

25

Martins, Jack M.

REP

3364

65

Kaminsky, Todd ***

DEM

1428

26

Serino, Susan J.

REP

3357

66

Libous, Thomas W. *

REP

481

26

Breslin, Neil D.

DEM

3357

28

Funke, Rich

REP

3356

29

Griffo, Joseph A.

REP

3352

30

Ranzenhofer, Michael H.

REP

3344

31

Serrano, Jose M.

DEM

3338

31

Murphy, Terrence P.

REP

3338

33

LaValle, Kenneth P.

REP

3336

34

Dilan, Martin Malave

DEM

3330

35

O'Mara, Thomas F.

REP

3329

36

Bonacic, John J.

REP

3317

37

Lanza, Andrew J.

REP

3310

37

Ortt, Robert G.

REP

3310

39

Squadron, Daniel

DEM

3309

40

Amedore, Jr., George A.

REP

3304

NOTE: The floor vote totals includes the

Senates one-house budget resolution.

* Only present for the 2015 session
** Only present for the 2016 session
*** Only present for May & June in 2016

Voted with majority of Republican Senators 2015-2016

RANK

SENATOR

PARTY

CONFERECNCE

VOTES

RANK

SENATOR

PARTY

CONFERECNCE

VOTES

Young, Catharine M.

REP

3502

43

Serrano, Jose M.

DEM

3210

Gallivan, Patrick M.

REP

3499

44

Peralta, Jose R.

DEM

3201

Ritchie, Patricia A.

REP

3497

45

Hamilton, Jesse E.

DEM

3188

Hannon, Kemp

REP

3494

45

Squadron, Daniel

DEM

3188

Venditto, Michael

REP

3489

47

Comrie, Jr., Leroy G.

DEM

3170

Golden, Martin J.

REP

3487

48

Espaillat, Adriano

DEM

3138

Funke, Rich

REP

3487

49

Seward, James L.

REP

3122

Serino, Susan J.

REP

3486

50

Hoylman, Brad M.

DEM

3086

Martins, Jack M.

REP

3485

51

Rivera, J. Gustavo

DEM

3084

10

Griffo, Joseph A.

REP

3484

52

Sanders, Jr., James

DEM

3082

10

Farley, Hugh T.

REP

3484

53

Nozzolio, Michael F.

REP

3080

12

Flanagan, John J.

REP

3482

54

Krueger, Liz

DEM

3000

12

Boyle, Philip M.

REP

3482

55

Montgomery, Velmanette

DEM

2978

14

Marcellino, Carl L.

REP

3480

56

Hassell-Thompson, Ruth

DEM

2858

15

Ranzenhofer, Michael H.

REP

3475

57

Parker, Kevin S.

DEM

2783

16

Valesky, David J.

IDC

3469

58

Panepinto, Marc C.

DEM

2752

17

Little, Elizabeth O'C.

REP

3468

59

Perkins, Bill

DEM

2687

18

Felder, Simcha

REP

3466

60

Akshar, Fred **

REP

1810

19

Murphy, Terrence P.

REP

3463

61

Diaz, Ruben M.

DEM

1667

19

Robach, Joseph E.

REP

3463

62

Skelos, Dean G. *

REP

1663

21

O'Mara, Thomas F.

REP

3450

63

Persaud, Roxanne J. **

DEM

1605

22

Carlucci, David

IDC

3448

64

Sampson, John L. *

DEM

1568

23

LaValle, Kenneth P.

REP

3445

65

Kaminsky, Todd ***

DEM

1442

24

Ortt, Robert G.

REP

3443

66

Libous, Thomas W. *

REP

489

25

Lanza, Andrew J.

REP

3437

26

Klein, Jeffrey D.

IDC

3431

27

Bonacic, John J.

REP

3423

28

Savino, Diane J.

IDC

3415

29

Amedore, Jr., George A.

REP

3412

30

Latimer, George S.

DEM

3411

30

Kennedy, Timothy M.

DEM

3411

32

Addabbo, Jr., Joseph P.

DEM

3401

33

Avella, Tony

IDC

3394

34

DeFrancisco, John A.

REP

3392

35

Stewart-Cousins, Andrea

DEM

3363

36

Marchione, Kathleen A.

REP

3357

37

Stavisky, Toby Ann

DEM

3331

38

Gianaris, Michael N.

DEM

3320

39

Croci, Thomas D.

REP

3311

40

Larkin, Jr., William J.

REP

3289

41

Breslin, Neil D.

DEM

3281

42

Dilan, Martin Malave

DEM

3241

* Only present for the 2015 session

** Only present for the 2016 session
*** Only present for May & June in 2016
NOTE: The floor vote totals includes the Senates one-

house budget resolution.