Legislative report card lets Floridians know which lawmakers put ‘People First’

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 11, 2024

Contact: Cheyenne Drews / 386-314-7964 / [email protected]

Legislative report card lets Floridians know which lawmakers put ‘People First’

Which state legislators put people ahead of powerful special interests and which did not? Find out at www.FloridaReportCard.com.

TALLAHASSEE –– Public interest groups Progress Florida and Florida Watch today unveiled their 2024 “People First” Report Card, grading Florida lawmakers on key floor votes cast during this year’s legislative session. Each legislator received a score and letter grade based on their votes across a wide spectrum of issues including reproductive freedom, civil rights, ethics in government, public education, worker protections, environmental conservation, gun safety, and more.

To achieve a passing grade, lawmakers had to consistently vote to put “People First” across 30 key floor votes cast in each chamber. The report card gives Floridians a valuable tool for determining if their state legislators are fighting on behalf of their constituents or are instead bowing to powerful corporate lobbyists or extremist ideology and working against the public interest.

In the face of an unprecedented affordability crisis, this past session legislative leaders pursued an agenda in lockstep with their wealthy corporate donors that did little to put ‘People First’ and help suffering Floridians. Policies that would have lowered housing costs, expanded health care access, strengthened our democracy, and built a brighter future for everyone were largely neglected in deference to corporate lobbyists and anti-freedom extremists.

Some of the votes factored into lawmaker grades include: the Corruption in Government bill (HB 1597/SB 7014), Climate Crisis Denial (HB 1645/SB 1624), Heat Protections for Workers Ban (HB 433/SB 1492), Polluter Protection (HB 789/ SB 738), Anti-Abortion Taxpayer Funded Propaganda (HB 415/SB 436), Predatory Consumer Loans (HB 1347/SB 1436), and Homelessness Criminalization (HB 1365/SB 1530), among many others. The complete list of bills scored and their descriptions can be found at www.FloridaReportCard.com.

Here are the five state legislators who earned a “People’s Champion” Award for their 100% “A+” voting records

Rep. LaVon Bracy Davis (D-Orlando)
Rep. Anna V. Eskamani (D-Orlando)
Rep. Ashley Viola Gantt (D-Miami)
Rep. Angie Nixon (D-Jacksonville)
Rep. Susan L. Valdés (D-Tampa)

“The ‘People First’ report card is an easy to use, effective tool for Floridians to stay informed about the actions of their elected leaders,” said Progress Florida Executive Director Mark Ferrulo. “As Florida’s working families and seniors continue to struggle under an affordability crisis that has them wondering if they will be able to enjoy a secure retirement or pay for the medical care they need, it’s crucial for the public to know which lawmakers are fighting for the people and which ones are doing the bidding of powerful special interests and anti-freedom extremists.”

“This session, Floridians were looking for their elected officials to address the real issues impacting their lives, but their priorities went largely unaddressed by Governor Ron DeSantis and his allies in the legislature,” said Florida Watch Executive Director Josh Weierbach. “Whether it is providing safe and affordable housing by cracking down on wealthy corporate landlords and developers price gouging us out of our homes, expanding access to a full range of quality and affordable health care options, or creating good paying jobs that allow families to build financial security, we all deserve leaders who put protecting our freedoms first. With the “People First” report card, Floridians can now clearly see which lawmakers are truly fighting for our freedom to be healthy, prosperous, and safe.”

Florida House and Senate Members Earning an “A” on the “People First” Report Card:

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For more information, go to www.FloridaReportCard.com.

Progress Florida is a statewide organization working to build a Florida that works for all Floridians, not just the powerful and politically connected. Learn more at www.ProgressFlorida.org

Florida Watch is a communications and research organization dedicated to holding the powerful accountable. Learn more at www.FloridaWatch.org.