Florida Chamber Applauds 9 Lawmakers But Mourns ‘Missed Opportunities’
The Florida Chamber of Commerce has released its annual report card, a list of which lawmakers have found favor with the business group and which fell short.
Eight Senators and one member of the House voted 100 percent in line with the Chamber’s agenda, including a tax cut package and some of the health care bills (though notably not the FHIX plan to subsidize health insurance for the poor).
Perhaps that’s one of the “missed opportunities” Chamber chairman Steve Knopik is referring to in a statement released with the rankings.
“Despite philosophical differences, lawmakers passed 20 Florida Chamber-backed measures during the two recent legislative sessions,” Knopik said. “Unfortunately, there were a number of missed opportunities, resulting in fewer votes taken on issues that could help make Florida more competitive.”
Here’s which lawmakers cracked the top of the charts with perfect scores:
- Sen. Thad Altman, R-Melbourne
- Sen. Greg Evers, R-Baker
- Sen. Rene Garcia, R-Hialeah
- Senate President Andy Gardiner, R-Orlando
- Sen. Audrey Gibson, D-Jacksonville
- Sen. Travis Hutson, R-St. Augustine, who got an extra thumbs-up from the Chamber for his votes in the House before switching chambers in April
- Sen. Garrett Richter, R-Naples
- Sen. Darren Soto, D-Orlando
- Rep. Charles Van Zant, R-Keystone Heights
Still, there are others the Chamber wasn’t so pleased with. Like House Democratic Leader Mark Pafford of West Palm Beach, who voted with the group just 33 percent of the time.
You can peruse the full list on the Chamber’s website, if that’s your thing.