Just a couple of insights after reviewing the Florida Chamber’s ratings:
***State Sen. Dan Gelber had the second lowest rating of his colleagues, so he must be doing something right.
***The Chamber’s ratings gave extra weight to how a legislator voted on SB6.
The Florida Chamber of Commerce released theĀ 2010 Legislative Report Card, which grades legislators based on their support of pro-job andĀ pro-business issues during the legislative session. These highly anticipated grades areĀ calculated annually based on legislatorsā voting records on the issues outlined in the FloridaĀ Chamberās 2010 Florida Business Agenda and are available for review atĀ www.FloridaChamber.com/2010ReportCard.
āThe Florida Chamberās 2010 Legislative Report Card is an invaluable tool for every businessĀ owner and voter in the state,ā said Florida Chamber President and CEO Mark Wilson. āNot onlyĀ is it a one-stop source for employers and their employees to find out which legislators supportĀ the business community as a whole, the online Report Card also provides a breakdown of howĀ each individual legislator voted on specific issues in the Florida Business Agenda to earn his orĀ her grade.ā
This year, 56 percent of the Florida Legislature earned an āAā (score of 90-100) on theĀ Legislative Report Card, in comparison to 46 percent last year. In the Florida House, 68Ā legislators earned an āA,ā an increase from 65 last year. The Florida Senate continues toĀ improve significantly, as a record-breaking 21 senators earned an āAā this year, compared toĀ only nine senators in 2009 and seven in 2008.
Prior to session, legislators received Where We Stand, a report detailing Floridaās BusinessĀ Agenda. This publication includes position papers on each issue, as well as information aboutĀ the Legislative Report Card and grading criteria.
āAfter session, we let Floridaās employers know how legislators voted on their priorities, givingĀ our members a comprehensive guide to follow when supporting future campaigns,ā said Marian Johnson, senior vice president of Political Operations for the Florida Chamber of Commerce.
Former Speaker of the House and Chair-Elect of the Florida Chamber Board of Directors AllanĀ Bense added, āParticularly in an election year, it is so important for business leaders to knowĀ which legislators are working to protect their interests.ā
The grade earned by a legislator is calculated by dividing the total number of times a legislatorĀ voted “for” the Chamber’s position by the total number of times a legislator cast a vote on Florida Business Agenda issues ā on the floor, in committee and on amendments.
In the coming weeks, the Florida Chamber will release How They Voted 2010, a detailedĀ publication summarizing the priorities of the Legislative Session and incorporating the 2010 Legislative Report Card. To view the Florida Chamberās complete online Legislative ReportĀ Card, please visit www.FloridaChamber.com/2010ReportCard.
