Voting Records Voting Records
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VVOTINGOTING RRECORDSECORDS OnOn KeyKey BusinessBusiness IssuesIssues 20072007 RegularRegular SessionSession && SpecialSpecial SessionSession BB ofof thethe FloridaFlorida LegislatureLegislature Champions2007 Businessfor Page 36 Associated Industries of Florida Dear Employer: It is my pleasure to provide you with this tabulation of the voting conduct of each Barney T. Bishop III member of the Florida Legislature during the 2007 Regular Session and Special Session President & on Property Tax Reform. Chief Executive Officer Voting Records reports on the votes made by every legislator on bills that were lobbied, advocated, promoted or opposed by Associated Industries of Florida. By reporting on 9,869 votes cast by legislators on 108 bills, this publication embodies the most exhaustive and complete record of the Legislature’s approach to the concerns of Visit Florida’s employers. We go to great lengths to ensure that legislators are aware of AIF’s positions on http://aif.com issues of great importance to the business community. Every year before the session begins, we produce AIF’s Session Priorities, which explains why we support or oppose to access the key issues. In addition, during the session we provide each legislator with a Daily Brief on the activities of that day highlighting bills of interest to business and our positions complete on those issues. Our greatest asset, however, is our experienced and accomplished legislative team, which has compiled a record of success second to none. Voting This year and for the first time, we have combined our Voting Records publication with our annual Champions for Business Awards. This comprehensive report provides Records our members with one single source of information, presenting the most accurate report “snapshot” of how legislators performed on important issues to the business community. For more than three decades, AIF has published Voting Records, an analysis of every vote cast by every legislator on major business issues. Yet, voting records only tell part of the story. AIF also helps its member companies detect what bills and amendments are filed by whom, and who is taking part in behind-the-scene efforts and debates on behalf of the business community. Published by Associated These intangible forms of support through non-voting actions are also of vital Industries of Florida importance and merit recognition. AIF instituted the “Champion for Business” award © 2007. to acknowledge lawmakers who provide leadership on key legislation. A “Champion All rights reserved. 516 North Adams Street for Business” is a legislator who takes risks for his or her belief in the free-enterprise Post Office Box 784 system, who defies the status quo when it is harmful to our state’s competitive climate, Tallahassee, FL 32301-0784 and who faces down the opponents to the growing prosperity of Florida’s citizens. Phone: (850) 224-7173 Fax: (850) 224-6532 The four lawmakers (see page 36) honored this year are the epitome of a “Champion E-mail: [email protected] for Business.” In addition, we have designated another five legislators for “Honorable Internet: http://aif.com Mention” and two of our AIF Councils have awarded “Legislator of the Year” Awards. Whether they proposed an important bill, authored a key amendment, or toiled be- hind-the-scenes, these legislators are the ones who made a difference this session. Maybe they are the exception, rather than the rule. But that’s why we want to recognize them, because we need more of them in Florida government. Cover Photo: Mark Foley, House Photographer 2 AIF Voting Records • 2007 Fresh Faces he 2006 election cycle tion. AIF and the business commu- Because of term-limits, resulted in a dramatic nity have been consistently op- turnover of leadership in posed to additional mandates AIF and its members both the executive and because the resultant cost increases Tlegislative branches of government. could force insurers out of the must continuously Gov. Charlie Crist (R) has been in market and make it harder for office for a little over six months employers to purchase health educate legislators and has already presided over one insurance for their workers. The regular session and two special 2007 regular session saw the filing and leadership on the sessions. In the Legislature, we of a record number of these man- have a new Speaker and Senate dates and in the Senate several issues important to President. Thanks to term limits, made it through all their committee the business over one-third of the Legislature is stops and were even passed on the new (there are 38 freshmen in the floor. community. House of Representatives as well as Other unfriendly issues for the seven freshmen senators)[1]. In 2010, business community were also the turnover will be even more advanced this session including: the because of term limits, AIF and its dramatic — with over half of the expansion of Citizens Insurance members must continuously Legislature facing term limits! This Company, the undermining of the educate legislators and leadership change in personnel has led to repeal of joint and several liability, on the issues important to the some interesting challenges and and a proposed sales tax increase to business community. In this new surprises for AIF and the business offset property taxes. In each of era of term limits, we must be ever- community. The effect of new these cases, some of the primary vigilant of the fresh faces because leadership and fresh faces in the proponents were either fresh faces you never know when a bad idea Legislature is also evident in the to the process or in new leadership may pop up and gather steam… no 2007 edition of AIF’s Voting Records. positions. Not all fresh faces were matter how many times it was Even from first glance, it is bad of course; Rep. Will defeated in the past. evident that the Senate is down Weatherford (R-Zephyrhills) a seven percentage points (85 per- freshman received the “Legislator cent) from last year’s score of 92 of the Year Award” from AIF’s percent. The House is also down a Information Technology Council couple of percentage points to 92 (see pg. 39). Two freshman Reps., percent. Several factors can be Seth McKeel (R-Lakeland) and considered when trying to explain Nick Thompson (R-Ft. Myers), this drop in the Senate. For the first provided stalwart support to the time in nearly eight years, the issue business community with favorable of health care mandates experi- scores of 98 percent. Freshman Sen. enced quite a resurgence in the Steve Oelrich (R-Gainesville) was at Senate. A health-insurance “man- the top of his class with a 93 percent date” is a legislative requirement voting record. [1] See how the ‘07 Freshman Class compares that an insurance company cover a The lesson to be learned from to its ’05 counterparts in our “By the Numbers specific benefit or patient popula- this year’s Voting Records is that, Section” on pg. 4 AIF Voting Records • 2007 3 2007 Florida Legislature by the Numbers nowing how individual legislators cast their votes is K extremely important when 2007 Florida Legislature by Party evaluating their stand on the issues facing our members. However, it is also important to look at the other 100% areas of the data to find clues on how % 93% different segments of the Florida 85 Legislature are casting their votes. 80% For instance, which party in which chamber tends to support business 60% issues more than the other? How do the current vote records compare to those 40% from past years? This section will break 20% down different segments of the votes Dem. Rep. and provide some interesting snap- shots of what the mood of the Florida Legislature is on business issues. Democrats by Chamber Republicans by Chamber 100% % 100% 95% 86% % 84 80% 80% 60% 60% % 40% 86 40% 20% 20% House Senate House Senate Senate by Party House by Party 100% 100% % 84% 86% 86% 95 80% 80% 60% 60% 40% 40% 20% Senate 20% House 4 AIF Voting Records • 2007 05/07 Freshman Comparison by Party Legislature — Historical Voting Records 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% % 93% 98 95% 97 87% 87% % 84% 87% 100% 82 98 92% 99 86% 64% 80% 00 79% 01 72% 60% 02 69% 03 82% 40% 05 07 05 07 05 07 05 07 04 89% 05 88% Dem. Rep. Dem. Rep. 20% 06 94% 07 90% SENATE HOUSE Party — Historical Voting Records 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Democrats 97 84% 90% 87% 98 96% Republicans 77% 99 92% 77% 00 81% 41% 01 91% 52% 02 78% 63% 03 92% 84% 04 92% 69% 05 97% 06 85% 98% 85% 07 93% Chamber — Historical Voting Records 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% House 97 86% 91% 98 91% 97% Senate 99 88% 83% 00 83% 72% 01 72% 72% 02 74% 45% 03 84% 77% 91% 04 86% 05 88% 90% 06 95% 92% 92% 07 85% AIF Voting Records • 2007 5 2007 FLORIDA LEGISLATURE VOTING RECORDS On Key Business Issues – Percentage with AIF Voting Records is compiled using actual votes cast as reported in official state records. It does not include changed or paired votes. Some votes may be corrected by the Legislature at a later date, but those changes will not be reflected in Voting Records, which relies on the positions of members of the Legislature at the time the votes are recorded. Each vote cast is measured equally, with no added points to certain bills. F L O R I D A S E N A T E % w/AIF Name/Party For Against % w/AIF Name/Party For Against 94% Haridopolos (R) 58 4 85% Margolis (D) 50 9 93% Diaz de la Portilla (R) 62 5 85% Ring (D) 50 9 93% Oelrich (R) 54 4 85% Saunders (R) 50 9 91% King (R) 51 5 84% Aronberg (D) 49 9 90% Pruitt (R) 36 4 84% Peaden (R) 41 8 90% Siplin (D) 57 6 84% Posey (R) 48 9 89% Constantine (R) 48 6 83% Justice