Tom Golisano, the prominent upstate New York businessman and former gubernatorial candidate, has been making waves this summer with the launch of his Responsible New York political action committee.

Golisano has sent out questionnaires to state Legislature candidates asking them about issues that he says should concern all New Yorkers. The questions focus broadly on tax, budget and campaign finance issues. The Rochester billionaires is pledging to provide campaign support and endorsements to the candidates who demonstrate a commitment to Responsible New York priorities.

The latest development came Monday, when Golisano's group came out with a list of endorsements in state Senate races, and the announcement received considerable attention from the capital press corps. For the record, Golisano declined to endorse a candidate in either of the two Senate races affecting Cayuga County.

We give Golisano credit for taking an active role in the process. He's certainly trying to make a difference, and he's exercising his rights. But the attention Responsible New York is getting for its choices has us a little puzzled. What makes Golisano's endorsements so much more important than any other stakeholder?

Golisano's questionnaire, for example, does not touch on key health care, environment and education issues - all matters of great importance to New Yorkers.

Our point is not to dismiss or discredit Golisano's endorsements, though we do hope his group provides more details about why they've made their choices, rather than just saying “We endorse Candidate X.”

Voters will find that kind of information useful. And we also urge voters to study candidates carefully for themselves before making final decisions, and to seek information from a variety of sources.