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Officials earn high scores


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  • | 6:15 a.m. August 27, 2013
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The Florida Chamber of Commerce's 2013 Distinguished Advocates list, elected officials whom it says champion a pro-business agenda in Tallahassee, leans toward the Gulf Coast.

In fact, more than one-third of the 29 legislator-advocates the chamber cites for a specific pro-business action represent a Gulf Coast district. All the winners backed legislation that passed the House and Senate in the 2013 Session. Florida Gov. Rick Scott subsequently signed those bills into law.

The Chamber's local Distinguished Advocates include:

  • State Sen. Lizbeth Benacquisto, R-Fort Myers: The senator, with a district that includes Lee and Charlotte counties, led efforts to create efficient and cost effective state procurement processes;
  • State Sen. Jeff Brandes, R-St. Petersburg: Championed transparent local pension plans and worked to expand virtual learning opportunities. District includes Hillsborough and Pinellas counties;
  • State Sen. Tom Lee, R-Brandon: The deputy majority leader, Lee championed medical liability legal reform;
  • State Sen. Garrett Richter, R-Naples: A prominent local banker, with a district that includes Collier and Lee counties, he led the charge to eliminate junk science in the courtroom;
  • Rep. Jim Boyd, R-Bradenton: Championed an expedited manufacturing plan permit process;
  • Rep. Matt Caldwell, R-Lehigh Acres: Led efforts to make local pension plans more transparent;
  • Rep. Matt Hudson, R-Naples: Led the charge to reduce workers' compensation costs;
  • Rep. Kathleen Passidomo, R-Naples: Led efforts to expedite the foreclosure process and protect consumers, and championed important legal reform legislation;
  • Rep. Jake Raburn, R-Valrico: Led the charge to enact Florida's water standards;
  • Rep. Will Weatherford, R-Wesley Chapel: The House speaker championed free enterprise, according to the chamber. He supported education reform and legal reform, reduced the expansion of gambling, increased international business and fought to reform an unsustainable government pension system;
  • Rep. Dana Young, R-Tampa: Led efforts to strengthen alternative water supplies.
  • “Early on we encouraged lawmakers to focus on making Florida more competitive and improving the economic conditions for families and businesses,” Florida Chamber of Commerce Executive Vice President David Hart says in a statement. “In doing so, they helped put Florida in position for continued private-sector job creation this year, and improve the economic health of communities and regions across Florida.”

     

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