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TALLAHASSEE — Nearly two-thirds of state legislators that represent areas on the Gulf Coast scored an A grade from the Florida Chamber of Commerce, which ranked the 160 members on pro-business votes in the past session.
In total, 24 out of 38 local legislators scored an A, according to a Business Observer analysis of the Chamber's annual report card. Nine legislators scored a perfect 100. On the flip side, seven area legislators failed, with scores of less than 65. The scores broke down entirely by party affiliation: Republicans earned all the 100 and A scores, while the seven failures were all Democrats.
The chamber, according to a release, tabulated more than 8,000 votes from the session. Nearly 59% of lawmakers statewide earned an A score. The chamber also reports 20 Senators earned an A this year, up from 17 in 2012 and 73 representatives earned an A, down from 79 last year.
“Business leaders and voters deserve to know their legislators are voting in support of private sector jobs and a stronger economy,” Florida Chamber Executive Vice President David Hart says in the release. “The Florida Chamber's Legislative Report Card gives job creators and voters the information they need to make informed decision on who they will support in the future.”
Here are the Chamber's scores for all the legislators based in a district on the Gulf Coast:
• State Rep. Larry Ahern, R-St. Petersburg: 100
• State Sen. Lizbeth Benacquisto, R-Fort Myers: 100
• State Rep. Jim Boyd, R-Bradenton: 100
• State Sen. Jeff Brandes, R-St. Petersburg: 96
• State Rep. Matt Caldwell, R-Leigh Acres: 96
• State Rep. Richard Corcoran, R-Lutz: 95
• State Rep. Janet Cruz, D-Tampa: 53
• State Rep. Mark Danish, D-Tampa: 64
• State Sen. Nancy Detert, R-Venice: 85
• State Rep. Dwight Richard Dudley, D-St. Petersburg: 47
• State Rep. Dane Eagle, R-Cape Coral: 96
• State Rep. Mike Fassano, R-New Port Richey: 71
• State Rep. Heather Dawes Fitzenhagen, R-Fort Myers: 97
• State Sen. Bill Galvano, R-Bradenton: 96
• State Rep. James “J.W.” Grant, R-Tampa: 96
• State Rep. Doug Holder, R-Sarasota: 100
• State Rep. Ed Hopper, R-Clearwater: 91
• State Rep. Matt Hudson, R-Naples: 100
• State Sen. Jack Latvala, R-Clearwater: 92
• State Sen. John Legg, R-Lutz: 91
• State Sen. Tom Lee, R-Brandon: 98
• State Sen. Arthenia Joyner, D-Tampa: 56
• State Rep. Kathleen Passidomo, R-Naples: 97
• State Rep. Kathleesn Peters, R-St. Petersburg, 85
• State Rep. Ray Pilon, R-Sarasota: 97
• State Rep. Jake Raburn, R-Valrico: 97
• State Rep. Daniel Raulerson, R-Plant City: 100
• State Rep. Betty Reed, D-Tampa: 57
• State Sen. Garrett Richter, R-Naples: 100
• State Rep. Kenneth Roberson, R-Port Charlotte: 97
• State Rep. Ray Wesley Rodrigues, R-Fort Myers: 85
• State Rep. Darryl Rouson, D-St. Petersburg: 60
• State Sen. Wilton Simpson, R-New Port Richey 93
• State Rep. Ross Spano, R-Riverview: 93
• State Rep. Greg Steube, R-Bradenton: 92
• State Rep. Will Weatherford, R-Wesley Chapel: 100
• State Rep. Dana Young, R-Tampa: 100
• State Rep. Carl Zimmerman, D-56
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