Progress Florida today unveiled its 2018 “People First” Report Card grading every lawmaker on the votes they cast during the 2018 legislative session across a wide spectrum of issues important to Floridians.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 19, 2018
Contact: Damien Filer / 850-212-1858 / Damien@ProgressFlorida.org
TALLAHASSEE – Progress Florida today unveiled its 2018 “People First” Report Card grading every lawmaker on the votes they cast during the 2018 legislative session across a wide spectrum of issues important to Floridians. Every active legislator was graded based on floor votes taken in their respective chambers – 21 votes in the House and 18 in the Senate. To achieve an A or B grade on the Report Card, lawmakers had to consistently vote to put ‘People First’ instead of powerful special interests.
“Floridians don’t always know where their legislators stand on key issues impacting their lives, from access to health care and environmental protection to gun safety, the economy and supporting public schools,” said Progress Florida Executive Director Mark Ferrulo. “Our People First Report Card grades state lawmakers based not on what they say in a campaign mailer, but on how they actually voted on issues Floridians care about.”
The 2018 Progress Florida “People First” Report Card may be found at www.FloridaReportCard.com. Listed below are the 17 lawmakers who earned an “A” grade, including Sen. Jose Javier Rodriguez and Reps. David Richardson and Carlos Guillermo Smith who earned a “Putting People First” Award for their 100% voting records:
- Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith (D-Orlando)
- Sen. Jose Javier Rodriguez (D-Miami)
- Rep. David Richardson (D-Miami Beach)
- Rep. Cynthia Stafford (D-Miami)
- Rep. Clovis Watson (D-Alachua)
- Rep. Lori Berman (D-Boynton Beach)
- Rep. Sharon Pritchett (D-Miami Gardens)
- Rep. Tracie Davis (D-Jacksonville)
- Rep. Evan Jenne (D-Hollywood)
- Sen. Gary M. Farmer, Jr. (D-Fort Lauderdale)
- Rep. Sean Shaw (D-Tampa)
- Rep. Barbara Watson (D-Miami Gardens)
- Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-Coral Springs)
- Rep. John Cortes (D-Kissimmee)
- Rep. Joseph Geller (D-Dania Beach)
- Rep. Bobby DuBose (D-Fort Lauderdale)
- Rep. Nicholas Duran (D-Miami)
High-profile votes that were considered in grading lawmakers included support for an assault weapons ban (HB 219/SB 7026), opposition to undermining public schools (HB 7055), using tax dollars to fund anti-abortion, fake women’s health clinics (HB 41/SB 444), opposing the predatory lending pay day loan bill (HB 857/SB 920), and opposing the ‘toilet to tap’ dirty water bill (HB 1149), among many others. The complete list of bills scored can be found at www.FloridaReportCard.com.
“The 2018 legislature not only passed another regressive state budget that rewards big corporations while underfunding affordable housing, health care, and the environment, they also attacked unions, our public schools, and reproductive freedom,” said Ferrulo. “On top of that, they missed big opportunities for meaningful gun safety reform, like banning assault weapons and keeping guns out of schools.”
The ‘People First’ Report Card grew out of Progress Florida’s Middle Class Champions award that recognized legislators who got a perfect score. Now, Floridians can see where every individual legislator ranks from A to F.
###
For more information, go to www.FloridaReportCard.com.
Progress Florida is a statewide organization fighting to build a more progressive Florida. Learn more at www.ProgressFlorida.org.