Florida Chamber of Commerce 2018 Legislative Report Card

4/6/2018

Today, the Florida Chamber released the grades earned by members of the Florida Legislature on the Florida Chamber’s 2018 Legislative Report Card and announced legislators who earned Distinguished Advocate Awards in your region.

The Florida Chamber’s Distinguished Advocate Award recognizes lawmakers who fought tirelessly for the passage of pro-business legislation – no matter how difficult – and furthered the Florida Chamber’s goals of securing Florida’s future through job creation and economic development.

The six members of the Florida Legislature honored with a 2018 Florida Chamber Distinguished Advocate award from your region include:

Rep. Ben Diamond– championed an amendment that would limit potential lawsuits against job creators;
Sen. Bill Galvano– sponsored legislation and led the Florida Senate in passing responsible and necessary school safety measures in response to the Parkland tragedy;
Rep. Joe Gruters– a reliable and vocal partner in the fight for free enterprise, came to the defense of the Florida Chamber on the Florida House Floor against unnecessary and inappropriate personal attacks;
Rep. Mike La Rosa– fought against the expansion of gambling in Florida and championed private property rights for vacation rentals
Sen. Wilton Simpson– worked to secure full funding for key economic development programs, including Enterprise Florida and VISIT FLORIDA
Sen. Kelli Stargel– championed this year’s tax package, including a reduction in the Florida-only business rent tax, a longstanding Florida Chamber priority

According to the Florida Chamber’s 2018 Legislative Report Card:

47 percent of state lawmakers earned an “A” (90-100) on pro-jobs issues outlined in the Florida Chamber’s 2018 Business Agenda, compared to 9 percent last year.
Average GPA for both legislative chambers was 78 percent, compared to 73 percent in 2017.
Senate GPA was 74 percent – up from 70 percent in 2017.
House GPA was 79 percent – up from 74 percent in 2017.
64 Representatives earned an “A” – up from 13 in 2017.
8 Senators earned an “A” – up from just one in 2017.

The following Representatives earned an “A” in your region:

Larry Ahern
Ben Albritton
Jim Boyd
Colleen Burton
Richard Corcoran
Julio Gonzalez
Joe Gruters
Shawn Harrison
Blaise Ingoglia
Sam Killebrew
Mike LaRosa
Amber Mariano
Ralph Massullo
Lawrence McClure
Cary Pigman
Jake Raburn
Ross Spano
Chris Sprowls
Jackie Toledo

The following Senators earned an “A” in your region:

Jeff Brandes
Denise Grimsley
Wilton Simpson
Kelli Stargel

Florida Chamber Unveils 2018 Legislative Report Card, Highlights 15 Distinguished Advocates

Following the 2018 Legislative Session, the Florida Chamber of Commerce released the grades earned by all members of the Florida House and Senate on the Florida Chamber’s 2018 Legislative Report Card.

Lawmakers earned higher grades this session with their renewed focus on certain competitiveness issues like cutting red tape, chipping away at Florida-only taxes, funding for economic development, tourism marketing and infrastructure investments, and targeted education reforms. But, the Florida Legislature also took significantly less total scored votes, leaving crucial competitiveness issues such as Florida’s bottom-five legal climate and ongoing workers’ comp crisis unaddressed in both chambers.

The Florida Chamber’s Legislative Report Card is an annual opportunity to recognize members of the Florida Legislature who placed making Florida more competitive through private-sector job creation above special interests and their attempts to protect the status quo.

KEY DATA POINTS:

After tabulating more than 2,900 votes cast on the Florida Chamber's 2018 Business Agenda issues during the 2018 regular session, data shows:

47 percent of state lawmakers earned an “A” (90-100) on pro-jobs issues outlined in the Florida Chamber’s 2018 Business Agenda, compared to 9 percent last year.
Average GPA for both legislative chambers was 78 percent, compared to 73 percent in 2017.
Senate GPA was 74 percent – up from 70 percent in 2017.
House GPA was 79 percent – up from 74 percent in 2017.
64 Representatives earned an “A” – up from 13 in 2017.
8 Senators earned an “A” – up from just one in 2017.

TRANSPARENT GRADING PROCESS:
The Florida Chamber’s legislative grading process is both transparent and accountable.

The Florida Business Agenda (FBA) was announced prior to the 2018 session, and was attended by a group of bi-partisan and bicameral members of the legislature, and dozens of leaders from throughout Florida’s business community.
The Florida Business Agenda, outlined in Where We Stand, was hand delivered and mailed to each member of the Florida Legislature.
Florida Chamber leadership met with various newspaper editorial boards in advance of session.
Most importantly, prior to each vote graded on the report card, a “Your Vote Matters” letter outlining the pro-business position and the Florida Chamber’s intent to score the vote was transmitted to voting members of the legislature – in total, 2,900 scored votes letters were transmitted in advance.

Distinguished Advocate Award Winners:
The Florida Chamber’s Distinguished Advocate Award recognizes lawmakers who fought tirelessly for the passage of pro-business legislation – no matter how difficult – and furthered the Florida Chamber’s goals of securing Florida’s future through job creation and economic development.

To see the 15 members of the Florida Legislature honored with a 2018 Florida Chamber Distinguished Advocate Award, click here.

Moving Forward:
Moving forward, the Florida Chamber’s Political Operations team, under the direction of Senior Vice President of Political Operations Marian Johnson, is actively engaging in electing pro-jobs, pro-business candidates in the 2018 election cycle. Soon, the Florida Chamber’s Political Institute will begin its statewide candidate interview tour – interviewing state House and Senate candidates.

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