"As further evidence as to why the Ocean State consistently ranks in the bottom 10 in so many critical national indexes that measure prosperity — and why so many of our family and friends are leaving for greener pastures — the 2019 General Assembly once again executed a legislative assault on the freedoms and liberties of Rhode Island families and businesses," center CEO Mike Stenhouse said in a news release.

A conservative Rhode Island think tank has ranked nearly 90% of General Assembly members a net negative to Ocean State freedom based on their votes in the last legislative session.



All 66 House Democrats and 33 Senate Democrats were given negative ratings in the Rhode Island Center for Freedom and Prosperity's Freedom Index released Wednesday. Eight of the nine GOP House members came out with positive scores, as did four of five Republican senators.

The only House Republican with a negative score was Rep. Jack Lyle of Lincoln. And Senate GOP leader Dennis Algiere was rated neutral, making him the Switzerland of State House culture wars.

The Center looked at 95 bills from the last session, 66 of which it opposed, generally along ideological lines.

"As further evidence as to why the Ocean State consistently ranks in the bottom 10 in so many critical national indexes that measure prosperity — and why so many of our family and friends are leaving for greener pastures — the 2019 General Assembly once again executed a legislative assault on the freedoms and liberties of Rhode Island families and businesses," center CEO Mike Stenhouse said in a news release.

The highest "freedom score" of 66.5 went to West Greenwich Republican Sherry Roberts, who took home the top mark last year when the Freedom Index was named the Whipple Liberty Index (after Captain Abraham Whipple of the Gaspee seizure.) Second place this year went to first-term Republican David Place of Burrillville.

On the other end of the spectrum, the Freedom Center gave Sen. Erin Lynch Prata, D-Warwick, the lowest freedom score, with Sen. Cynthia Coyne, D-Barrington, next.

The Freedom Center considered the Senate about 10 points more objectionable than the House.