Liberty First Network 1

The Liberty First Network is a liberty advocacy organization focused

on defending your freedoms and championing principled legislation in
Tallahassee. Our advocates, John Hallman, Danielle Alexandre and Paul
Henry are trusted professionals who have been fghting for liberty in
the state capitol for a number of years. We are in essence lobbyists,
however, we are not beholden to any party, business or organization. Our
only allegiance is to the Constitution and the ideals of liberty.
With a broad network of strong relationships and grassroots activist
strategies, the Liberty First Network sets itself apart from any other
organization. Implementation of timely, state-wide calls to action to
key decision-makers, legislators and their staff result in highly effective
advocacy strategies. We bring you the most in-depth and unbiased
information in each legislative analysis to give you the tools you need to
keep our elected offcials accountable to the people.
Become a member of the Liberty First Network so we can be your voice
for liberty in Tallahassee.
2 2014 Legislative Score Card
Liberty First Network 3
Introduction
T
he 2014 session in Tallahassee has come to a close. In total, 1880
pieces of legislation were proposed this session with 255 going
to the governors desk. With the entire State House and all even
numbered districts in the State Senate being up for election this year, we
did not see any wildly controversial legislation in the 2014 session. Tis is
in stark contrast to the previous year (2013) that had legislation codifying
common core into our education standards, the demise of 2nd Amendment
rights for individuals voluntarily seeking counseling for mental health
issues and the ending of an entire industry resulting in the loss of 14,000
jobs and hundreds of small business owners being forced out of business
by government regulation.
While the controversy was nominal, the 2014 Florida Legislature did
propose some substantial pieces of legislation that will aect the lives of all
Floridians for years to come. Tere were several civil liberties related bills,
huge incentives for large sports and business corporations, public records
legislation and several pieces of legislation on the 2nd Amendment and
self-protection.
After nearly a month of scouring through the 1800 pieces of legislation,
choosing methodology, analyzing roll call votes and tabulating rankings,
Te Liberty First Network has compiled its analysis of the legislative
session and presents it here in scorecard format.
Te State House as a whole scored better than the State Senate, both
of which have a fair mix of Republicans and Democrats in the ranks.
Collectively, Republicans scored on average slightly better than Democrats
did as a whole. We noticed that Republicans generally voted cohesively
on each issue whereas Democrats tended to break ranks more often.
In all, our scorecard identies a noticeable streak of individualism on the
Contents
Introduction 3
Methodology 4
Criteria for Choosing Legislation 4
Legislative Rankings 5
Florida House Rankings 5
Florida Senate Rankings 16
House Bills 20
Senate Bills 25
4 2014 Legislative Score Card
part of certain legislators. It is also clear that while some speak well on
issues, their voting records do not always substantiate their rhetoric.
We have compiled a cross-section of legislation to provide you, the grassroots,
with the most comprehensive analysis of your representation this session.
Methodology
A
ll of the bills that were proposed in the Florida State House and
Florida Senate were reviewed for content only. No roll call votes
or sponsorships were considered in choosing the legislation used
for this scorecard. In each the House and the Senate, 20 pieces of legis-
lation (numbered 1-20) that had been heard on the oor for a vote were
selected. Five additional positive pieces of legislation (labeled Ext 5)
that had not been heard for a vote on the oor were also included.
Te 20 pieces of legislation were deemed to be either negative (OPPOSED)
or positive (SUPPORTED) by the Liberty First Network and points were
assigned accordingly. A representative received 5-points for voting for
positive legislation or for voting no on negative legislation. 5-points were
deducted for voting no on positive legislation or for voting yes on
negative legislation. If the member did not vote on a piece of legislation,
he or she did not receive any points nor were any points deducted. Te
highest score a member could earn on the base legislation was 100-points.
In addition, ve pieces of positive legislation were chosen that did not receive
a oor vote. For each of those pieces of legislation, Co-sponsors received
5-points, for a possible total of 25 extra points. Sponsors of those 5 bills
earned 10 additional points for their willingness to champion liberty issues.
Te grade range was based on increments of 20-points. Members who
scored 81-100 points earned an A, 61-80 received a B, 41-60 received a
C, 21-40 received a D and anything
20 or below received an F grade. A plus
(+) or minus (-) was assigned depending
on where the score fell in the grade range.
A + was given to grades in the top 5-
points of the range, the full letter grade
was assigned if the score fell within the
middle 10-points, and a - was given to
scores in the bottom 5-points of the grade
range. All members who received an F did not receive a + or a - sign.
Criteria for Choosing Legislation
L
egislation was selected for this scorecard based on civil liberty
issues, business regulation and economic issues. Legislation that
contained unnecessary spending, corporate welfare, growth of
government bureaucracy or unequal enforcement of the law was deemed
negative legislation. Positive legislation included bills that covered pro-
tecting personal information from public record, the right to defend
oneself and allowing for private sector solutions.
Legislation that did not change policy in any way, regardless of the
public perception of the legislation, was not included. We found several
pieces of legislation that appeared to be either positive or negative on
the surface. However, after in-depth analysis and comparison to current
policy or other extenuating circumstances, the legislation had negligible
potential eect and, in some cases, we felt the legislation was addressing
the wrong issue.
An example of this type of legislation would be HB 921/SB 864. On the
surface, this legislation appears to give local school boards the control to
Liberty First Network 5
choose classroom material. After researching other statutes, merit pay,
funding and other regulatory matters, the choice of curricula is limited
to the state recommended materials. In essence, it is no choice at all
and is not addressing the growing concern over Common Core, which
is still codied into law as the denition of Next Generation Sunshine
State Standards.
Legislative Rankings
T
he 160 legislators from both houses were ranked by overall
cumulative score. Representative John Tobia earned the highest
score while Representative Perry Turston received the lowest.
Analysis of legislation is included in this document and may be found by
corresponding number under the House Bills or Senate Bills sections.
Florida House Rankings
T
he 120 Florida House members were ranked by cumulative score. Representative John Tobia received the highest
score in the Florida House with Representative Perry Turston receiving the lowest score. Republicans scored
an average of 24 out of possible 100 and Democrats scored an average of 2.8 out of possible 100. Analysis of
legislation is found by coordinating number under House Bills.
Name 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Ext 5 Total Grade
Tobia, John 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 5 5 -5 5 5 -5 5 5 65 B-
Rodrigues, Ray Wesley 5 5 5 5 5 5 -5 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 5 5 -5 5 5 -5 5 10 60 C+
Eagle, Dane 5 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 5 5 -5 5 20 50 C+
Smith, Jimmie T. 5 5 5 5 5 5 -5 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 5 5 -5 5 5 45 C-
Caldwell, Matthew 5 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 5 5 -5 5 10 40 D+
Mayfeld, Debbie 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 5 5 -5 5 20 40 D+
Steube, Gregory 5 5 5 5 5 5 -5 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 5 5 -5 5 0 40 D+
Albritton, Ben 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 5 5 -5 5 15 35 D
Gaetz, Matt 5 5 5 5 -5 0 -5 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 5 5 -5 5 5 -5 5 0 35 D
Hill, Mike 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 5 5 0 5 5 -5 5 0 35 D
Hutson, Travis 5 5 5 5 0 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 5 5 -5 5 10 35 D
FLORIDA HOUSE RANKINGS
Key
Republicans = Red
Democrats = Blue
5 = voted for liberty
-5 = voting against liberty
0 = no vote.
6 2014 Legislative Score Card
Name 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Ext 5 Total Grade
Santiago, David 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 5 5 -5 5 15 35 D
Combe, Neil 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 5 5 -5 5 10 30 D
Corcoran, Richard 5 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 5 5 -5 5 0 30 D
Diaz, Jr., Manny 5 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 0 5 -5 5 5 30 D
Goodson, Tom 5 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 5 5 -5 5 0 30 D
Metz, Larry 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 5 5 -5 5 10 30 D
Porter, Elizabeth W. 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 0 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 0 5 -5 5 5 -5 5 0 30 D
Rodrguez, Jos Javier -5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 0 30 D
Slosberg, Irving Irv 5 5 5 5 0 0 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 0 30 D
Trujillo, Carlos 5 5 5 5 5 5 -5 5 5 -5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 5 5 -5 5 0 30 D
Artiles, Frank 5 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 5 5 -5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 5 5 -5 0 10 25 D-
Baxley, Dennis K. 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 5 5 -5 5 5 25 D-
Beshears, Halsey 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 5 5 -5 5 5 25 D-
Davis, Daniel 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 5 5 0 5 0 25 D-
Hooper, Ed 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 5 5 -5 5 5 25 D-
Ingram, Clay 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 0 -5 -5 5 -5 5 5 -5 5 0 25 D-
OToole, H. Marlene 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 5 5 -5 5 5 25 D-
Peters, Kathleen M. 5 5 5 5 0 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 5 5 -5 5 0 25 D-
Pilon, Ray 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 5 5 -5 5 5 25 D-
Raschein, Holly Merrill 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 0 5 5 -5 5 0 25 D-
Van Zant, Charles 5 5 5 0 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 5 5 -5 5 10 25 D-
Adkins, Janet 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 5 5 -5 5 0 20 F
Ahern, Larry 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 5 5 -5 5 0 20 F
Boyd, Jim 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 5 5 -5 5 0 20 F
Brodeur, Jason T. 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 5 5 -5 5 0 20 F
FLORIDA HOUSE RANKINGS
Liberty First Network 7
Name 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Ext 5 Total Grade
Broxson, Doug 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 5 0 -5 5 5 20 F
Campbell, Daphne 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 10 20 F
Castor Dentel, Karen 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 0 20 F
Coley, Marti 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 5 5 -5 5 0 20 F
Cummins, W. Travis 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 5 5 -5 5 0 20 F
Eisnaugle, Eric 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 5 5 -5 5 0 20 F
Fitzenhagen, Heather -5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 5 5 -5 5 10 20 F
Fresen, Erik 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 0 5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 5 5 -5 5 5 20 F
Fullwood, Reggie 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 0 20 F
Hager, Bill 5 5 5 5 0 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 5 0 -5 5 0 20 F
Harrell, Gayle B. 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 5 5 -5 5 0 20 F
Holder, Doug 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 5 5 -5 5 0 20 F
La Rosa, Mike 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 5 5 -5 5 0 20 F
Magar, MaryLynn 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 5 5 -5 5 0 20 F
McBurney, Charles 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 5 5 -5 5 0 20 F
Nelson, Bryan 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 5 5 -5 5 0 20 F
Oliva, Jose R. 5 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 5 5 -5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 5 5 -5 5 0 20 F
Passidomo, Kathleen C. 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 5 5 -5 5 0 20 F
Patronis, Jimmy 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 5 5 -5 5 0 20 F
Perry, W. Keith 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 5 5 -5 5 0 20 F
Pigman, Cary 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 5 5 -5 5 0 20 F
Raburn, Jake 5 5 5 5 -5 0 0 0 5 0 5 -5 -5 0 5 -5 0 5 -5 5 0 20 F
Raulerson, Daniel D. 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 5 5 -5 5 0 20 F
Reed, Betty 5 5 5 5 0 0 -5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 0 20 F
Renuart, Ronald Doc 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 5 5 -5 5 0 20 F
FLORIDA HOUSE RANKINGS
8 2014 Legislative Score Card
Name 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Ext 5 Total Grade
Rooney, Jr., Patrick 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 5 5 -5 5 0 20 F
Schwartz, Elaine J. 5 5 5 0 5 5 5 5 0 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 0 20 F
Stewart, Linda 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 0 20 F
Stone, Charlie 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 5 5 -5 5 0 20 F
Weatherford, Will 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 5 5 -5 5 0 20 F
Wood, John 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 5 5 -5 5 0 20 F
Workman, Ritch 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 5 5 -5 5 0 20 F
Young, Dana D. 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 5 5 -5 5 0 20 F
Zimmermann, Carl 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 0 5 5 5 20 F
Bileca, Michael 5 0 0 5 5 -5 -5 5 5 5 0 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 5 5 -5 5 0 15 F
Diaz, Jose Felix 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 -5 5 0 -5 -5 5 -5 5 5 -5 5 0 15 F
Gonzalez, Eduardo 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 -5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 0 5 5 -5 5 0 15 F
Grant, James 5 5 5 0 0 -5 -5 0 5 5 5 0 -5 -5 5 -5 0 5 -5 5 0 15 F
Hudson, Matt 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 5 0 -5 5 0 15 F
Moraitis, Jr., George R. 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 0 5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 5 5 -5 5 0 15 F
Murphy, Amanda 5 0 0 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 5 15 F
Ray, Lake 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 -5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 0 5 5 -5 5 0 15 F
Rehwinkel Vasilinda, Michelle 0 5 5 0 -5 -5 -5 5 0 5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 10 15 F
Schenck, Robert C. 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 0 5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 5 5 -5 5 0 15 F
Spano, Ross 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 0 5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 5 5 -5 5 0 15 F
ClarkeReed, Gwyndolen -5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 5 5 5 5 0 10 F
Crisafulli, Steve 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 0 5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 5 5 -5 0 0 10 F
Dudley, Dwight 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 0 10 F
Hood, David Dave 5 5 5 5 0 0 -5 0 5 0 5 0 -5 -5 0 -5 0 5 -5 0 0 10 F
Nuez, Jeanette M. 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 -5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 5 5 -5 5 0 10 F
FLORIDA HOUSE RANKINGS
Liberty First Network 9
Name 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Ext 5 Total Grade
Roberson, Kenneth L. 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 5 5 -5 5 0 10 F
Saunders, Joe -5 5 5 5 -5 -5 0 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 0 -5 -5 5 5 -5 5 0 10 F
Torres, Jr., Victor -5 5 5 5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 0 10 F
Danish, Mark 5 0 0 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 0 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 0 5 F
McKeel, Seth 5 5 5 5 0 -5 -5 0 5 5 5 0 -5 -5 0 -5 0 0 -5 0 0 5 F
Moskowitz, Jared Evan 5 5 5 5 0 -5 -5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 -5 5 0 5 F
Pritchett, Sharon -5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 0 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 0 5 F
Waldman, James W. 5 0 0 5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 0 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 -5 5 0 5 F
Antone, Bruce -5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 0 0 F
Berman, Lori -5 5 5 -5 0 -5 5 5 5 0 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 0 0 F
Clelland, Michael Philip 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 -5 5 0 0 F
Cruz, Janet -5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 0 0 F
Jones, Mia L. 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 0 0 F
Jones, Shevrin D. 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 0 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 0 5 0 0 F
Lee, Jr., Larry 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 0 0 F
Rangel, Ricardo -5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 0 0 F
Richardson, David -5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 0 0 F
Rouson, Darryl Ervin 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 -5 5 0 0 F
Watson, Clovis -5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 0 0 F
Williams, Alan B. 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 -5 5 0 0 F
Edwards, Katie A. 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 0 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 -5 5 0 -5 F
Gibbons, Joseph A. 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 0 5 0 -5 F
Kerner, Dave 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 -5 -5 0 -5 -5 -5 5 5 -5 5 0 -5 F
Rogers, Hazelle P. Hazel -5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 5 -5 F
Stark, Richard -5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 -5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 0 5 5 0 -5 F
FLORIDA HOUSE RANKINGS
10 2014 Legislative Score Card
Name 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Ext 5 Total Grade
Bracy, Randolph -5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 0 -10 F
Powell, Bobby -5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 -5 5 0 -10 F
Rader, Kevin 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 0 -10 F
Taylor, Dwayne L. -5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 -5 5 0 -10 F
Watson, Barbara -5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 0 -10 F
Pafford, Mark -5 -5 -5 -5 0 -5 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 0 -15 F
Stafford, Cynthia -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 0 -20 F
McGhee, Kionne L. -5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 -5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 0 5 5 5 5 0 -25 F
Thurston, Jr., Perry E. -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 0 0 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 0 -30 F
FLORIDA HOUSE RANKINGS
Name 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Ext 5 Total
Adkins, Janet 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 5 5 -5 5 0 20
Ahern, Larry 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 5 5 -5 5 0 20
Albritton, Ben 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 5 5 -5 5 15 35
Artiles, Frank 5 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 5 5 -5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 5 5 -5 0 10 25
Baxley, Dennis K. 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 5 5 -5 5 5 25
Beshears, Halsey 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 5 5 -5 5 5 25
Bileca, Michael 5 0 0 5 5 -5 -5 5 5 5 0 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 5 5 -5 5 0 15
Boyd, Jim 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 5 5 -5 5 0 20
Brodeur, Jason T. 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 5 5 -5 5 0 20
Broxson, Doug 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 5 0 -5 5 5 20
Caldwell, Matthew 5 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 5 5 -5 5 10 40
Coley, Marti 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 5 5 -5 5 0 20
HOUSE REPUBLICAN RANKINGS
Liberty First Network 11
Name 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Ext 5 Total
Combe, Neil 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 5 5 -5 5 10 30
Corcoran, Richard 5 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 5 5 -5 5 0 30
Crisafulli, Steve 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 0 5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 5 5 -5 0 0 10
Cummins, W. Travis 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 5 5 -5 5 0 20
Davis, Daniel 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 5 5 0 5 0 25
Diaz, Jose Felix 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 -5 5 0 -5 -5 5 -5 5 5 -5 5 0 15
Diaz, Jr., Manny 5 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 0 5 -5 5 5 30
Eagle, Dane 5 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 5 5 -5 5 20 50
Eisnaugle, Eric 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 5 5 -5 5 0 20
Fitzenhagen, Heather -5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 5 5 -5 5 10 20
Fresen, Erik 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 0 5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 5 5 -5 5 5 20
Gaetz, Matt 5 5 5 5 -5 0 -5 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 5 5 -5 5 5 -5 5 0 35
Gonzalez, Eduardo 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 -5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 0 5 5 -5 5 0 15
Goodson, Tom 5 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 5 5 -5 5 0 30
Grant, James 5 5 5 0 0 -5 -5 0 5 5 5 0 -5 -5 5 -5 0 5 -5 5 0 15
Hager, Bill 5 5 5 5 0 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 5 0 -5 5 0 20
Harrell, Gayle B. 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 5 5 -5 5 0 20
Hill, Mike 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 5 5 0 5 5 -5 5 0 35
Holder, Doug 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 5 5 -5 5 0 20
Hood, David Dave 5 5 5 5 0 0 -5 0 5 0 5 0 -5 -5 0 -5 0 5 -5 0 0 10
Hooper, Ed 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 5 5 -5 5 5 25
Hudson, Matt 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 5 0 -5 5 0 15
Hutson, Travis 5 5 5 5 0 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 5 5 -5 5 10 35
Ingram, Clay 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 0 -5 -5 5 -5 5 5 -5 5 0 25
La Rosa, Mike 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 5 5 -5 5 0 20
HOUSE REPUBLICAN RANKINGS
12 2014 Legislative Score Card
Name 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Ext 5 Total
Magar, MaryLynn 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 5 5 -5 5 0 20
Mayfeld, Debbie 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 5 5 -5 5 20 40
McBurney, Charles 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 5 5 -5 5 0 20
McKeel, Seth 5 5 5 5 0 -5 -5 0 5 5 5 0 -5 -5 0 -5 0 0 -5 0 0 5
Metz, Larry 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 5 5 -5 5 10 30
Moraitis, Jr., George 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 0 5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 5 5 -5 5 0 15
Nelson, Bryan 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 5 5 -5 5 0 20
Nuez, Jeanette M. 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 -5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 5 5 -5 5 0 10
Oliva, Jose R. 5 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 5 5 -5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 5 5 -5 5 0 20
OToole, H. Marlene 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 5 5 -5 5 5 25
Passidomo, Kathleen 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 5 5 -5 5 0 20
Patronis, Jimmy 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 5 5 -5 5 0 20
Perry, W. Keith 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 5 5 -5 5 0 20
Peters, Kathleen M. 5 5 5 5 0 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 5 5 -5 5 0 25
Pigman, Cary 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 5 5 -5 5 0 20
Pilon, Ray 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 5 5 -5 5 5 25
Porter, Elizabeth W. 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 0 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 0 5 -5 5 5 -5 5 0 30
Raburn, Jake 5 5 5 5 -5 0 0 0 5 0 5 -5 -5 0 5 -5 0 5 -5 5 0 20
Raschein, Holly Merrill 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 0 5 5 -5 5 0 25
Raulerson, Daniel D. 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 5 5 -5 5 0 20
Ray, Lake 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 -5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 0 5 5 -5 5 0 15
Renuart, Ronald Doc 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 5 5 -5 5 0 20
Roberson, Kenneth L. 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 5 5 -5 5 0 10
Rodrigues, Ray Wesley 5 5 5 5 5 5 -5 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 5 5 -5 5 5 -5 5 10 60
Rooney, Jr., Patrick 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 5 5 -5 5 0 20
HOUSE REPUBLICAN RANKINGS
Liberty First Network 13
Name 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Ext 5 Total
Santiago, David 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 5 5 -5 5 15 35
Schenck, Robert C. 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 0 5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 5 5 -5 5 0 15
Smith, Jimmie T. 5 5 5 5 5 5 -5 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 5 5 -5 5 5 45
Spano, Ross 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 0 5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 5 5 -5 5 0 15
Steube, Gregory 5 5 5 5 5 5 -5 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 5 5 -5 5 0 40
Stone, Charlie 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 5 5 -5 5 0 20
Tobia, John 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 5 5 -5 5 5 -5 5 5 65
Trujillo, Carlos 5 5 5 5 5 5 -5 5 5 -5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 5 5 -5 5 0 30
Van Zant, Charles 5 5 5 0 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 5 5 -5 5 10 25
Weatherford, Will 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 5 5 -5 5 0 20
Wood, John 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 5 5 -5 5 0 20
Workman, Ritch 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 5 5 -5 5 0 20
Young, Dana D. 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 5 5 -5 5 0 20
HOUSE REPUBLICAN RANKINGS
HOUSE REPUBLICANS AVERAGE SCORE 24
Name 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Ext 5 Total
Antone, Bruce -5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 0 0
Berman, Lori -5 5 5 -5 0 -5 5 5 5 0 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 0 0
Bracy, Randolph -5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 0 -10
Campbell, Daphne 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 10 20
Castor Dentel, Karen 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 0 20
ClarkeReed, Gwyndolen -5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 5 5 5 5 0 10
Clelland, Michael Philip 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 -5 5 0 0
Cruz, Janet -5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 0 0
HOUSE DEMOCRAT RANKINGS
14 2014 Legislative Score Card
Name 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Ext 5 Total
Danish, Mark 5 0 0 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 0 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 0 5
Dudley, Dwight 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 0 10
Edwards, Katie A. 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 0 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 -5 5 0 -5
Fullwood, Reggie 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 0 20
Gibbons, Joseph A. 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 0 5 0 -5
Jones, Mia L. 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 0 0
Jones, Shevrin D. 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 0 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 0 5 0 0
Kerner, Dave 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 -5 -5 0 -5 -5 -5 5 5 -5 5 0 -5
Lee, Jr., Larry 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 0 0
McGhee, Kionne L. -5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 -5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 0 5 5 5 5 0 -25
Moskowitz, Jared Evan 5 5 5 5 0 -5 -5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 -5 5 0 5
Murphy, Amanda 5 0 0 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 5 15
Pafford, Mark -5 -5 -5 -5 0 -5 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 0 -15
Powell, Bobby -5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 -5 5 0 -10
Pritchett, Sharon -5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 0 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 0 5
Rader, Kevin 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 0 -10
Rangel, Ricardo -5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 0 0
Reed, Betty 5 5 5 5 0 0 -5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 0 20
Rehwinkel Vasilinda,
Michelle
0 5 5 0 -5 -5 -5 5 0 5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 10 15
HOUSE DEMOCRAT RANKINGS
Liberty First Network 15
Name 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Ext 5 Total
Richardson, David -5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 0 0
Rodrguez, Jos Javier -5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 0 30
Rogers, Hazelle P. -5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 5 -5
Rouson, Darryl Ervin 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 -5 5 0 0
Saunders, Joe -5 5 5 5 -5 -5 0 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 0 -5 -5 5 5 -5 5 0 10
Schwartz, Elaine J. 5 5 5 0 5 5 5 5 0 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 0 20
Slosberg, Irving Irv 5 5 5 5 0 0 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 0 30
Stafford, Cynthia -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 0 -20
Stark, Richard -5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 -5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 0 5 5 0 -5
Stewart, Linda 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 0 20
Taylor, Dwayne L. -5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 -5 5 0 -10
Thurston, Jr., Perry E. -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 0 0 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 0 -30
Torres, Jr., Victor -5 5 5 5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 0 10
Waldman, James W. 5 0 0 5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 0 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 -5 5 0 5
Watson, Barbara -5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 0 -10
Watson, Clovis -5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 0 0
Williams, Alan B. 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 -5 5 0 0
Zimmermann, Carl 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 0 5 5 5 20
HOUSE DEMOCRAT RANKINGS
HOUSE DEMOCRATS AVERAGE SCORE 2.8
16 2014 Legislative Score Card
Florida Senate Rankings
T
he 40 Florida Senate members were ranked by cumulative score. Senator Greg Evers received the highest score
in the Florida Senate with Senator Aretha Joyner, Senator Gwen Margolis, Senator Christopher Smith and
Senator Eleanor Sobel tied for receiving the lowest score. Republicans scored an average of 3.65 out of possible
100 and Democrats scored an average of -7.5 out of a possible 100. Analysis of legislation may be found in this docu-
ment by corresponding number under Senate Bills.
SENATE RANKINGS
Name 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Ext 5 Total Grade
Evers, Greg 5 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 5 5 5 -5 5 -5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 45 55 C
Garcia, Rene 5 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 5 5 5 -5 5 -5 5 -5 0 -5 5 5 -5 25 D-
Benacquisto, Lizbeth 5 5 5 5 5 0 -5 5 5 5 -5 5 -5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 5 20 F
Clemens, Jeff 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 -5 5 -5 5 -5 -5 5 -5 5 5 20 F
Brandes, Jeff 0 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 -5 5 -5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 10 15 F
Dean, Charles 5 5 5 5 0 -5 -5 5 5 5 -5 5 -5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 15 F
Flores, Anitere 5 5 5 5 0 -5 -5 5 5 5 -5 5 -5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 -5 15 F
Bean, Aaron 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 -5 5 -5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 10 F
Latvala, Jack 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 -5 5 -5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 10 F
Abruzzo, Joseph 5 5 5 5 -5 0 -5 5 5 5 -5 5 -5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 5 F
Altman, Thad 5 5 5 0 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 -5 5 -5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 F
Hays, Alan 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 -5 5 -5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 5 5 F
Bullard, Dwight -5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 -5 5 -5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 0 F
Gaetz, Don 5 0 0 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 -5 5 -5 5 -5 -5 0 0 5 -5 0 F
Glavano, Bill 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 -5 5 0 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 0 -5 0 F
Grimsley, Denise 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 -5 5 -5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 0 F
Montford, Bill 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 -5 5 -5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 0 F
Key
Republicans = Red
Democrats = Blue
5 = voted for liberty
-5 = voting against liberty
0 = no vote.
Liberty First Network 17
Name 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Ext 5 Total Grade
Richter, Garrett 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 -5 5 -5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 0 F
Simmons, David 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 -5 5 -5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 0 F
Simpson, Wilton 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 -5 5 -5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 0 F
Soto, Darren 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 -5 5 -5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 0 F
Stargel, Kelli 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 -5 5 -5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 0 F
Bradley, Rob 5 0 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 -5 5 -5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 -5 F
Detert, Nancy 5 0 5 5 -5 0 -5 -5 5 -5 -5 5 0 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 -5 F
Diaz de la Portilla,
Miguel
5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 0 -5 5 -5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 -5 F
Ring, Jeremy -5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 -5 5 -5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 5 -5 F
Thompson, Geraldine 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 0 -5 5 -5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 -5 F
Gardiner, Andy 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 0 5 5 -5 5 -5 0 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 -10 F
Gibson, Audrey 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 -10 F
Hukill, Dorothy 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 0 -5 0 -5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 -10 F
Lee, Tom 5 0 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 0 -5 5 -5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 -10 F
Legg, John -5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 -5 5 -5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 -10 F
Thrasher, John 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 -5 0 -5 0 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 -10 F
Braynon, Oscar -5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 0 -5 5 -5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 -15 F
Negron, Joe 5 0 0 0 -5 0 -5 5 5 0 -5 5 -5 5 -5 -5 0 -5 0 -5 -15 F
Sachs, Maria 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 0 -5 5 -5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 -15 F
Joyner, Aretha -5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 -5 -5 5 -5 5 -5 -5 5 -5 5 5 -20 F
Margolis, Gwen -5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 -5 5 -5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 -20 F
Smith, Christopher -5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 -5 5 -5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 -20 F
Sobel, Eleanor 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 -5 -5 5 -5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 -20 F
SENATE RANKINGS
18 2014 Legislative Score Card
Name 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Ext 5 Total
Altman, Thad 5 5 5 0 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 -5 5 -5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5
Bean, Aaron 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 -5 5 -5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 10
Benacquisto, Lizbeth 5 5 5 5 5 0 -5 5 5 5 -5 5 -5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 5 20
Bradley, Rob 5 0 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 -5 5 -5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 -5
Brandes, Jeff 0 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 -5 5 -5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 10 15
Dean, Charles 5 5 5 5 0 -5 -5 5 5 5 -5 5 -5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 15
Detert, Nancy 5 0 5 5 -5 0 -5 -5 5 -5 -5 5 0 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 -5
Diaz de la Portilla,
Miguel
5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 0 -5 5 -5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 -5
Evers, Greg 5 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 5 5 5 -5 5 -5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 45 55
Flores, Anitere 5 5 5 5 0 -5 -5 5 5 5 -5 5 -5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 -5 15
Gaetz, Don 5 0 0 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 -5 5 -5 5 -5 -5 0 0 5 -5 0
Glavano, Bill 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 -5 5 0 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 0 -5 0
Garcia, Rene 5 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 5 5 5 -5 5 -5 5 -5 0 -5 5 5 -5 25
Gardiner, Andy 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 0 5 5 -5 5 -5 0 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 -10
Grimsley, Denise 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 -5 5 -5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 0
Hays, Alan 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 -5 5 -5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 5 5
Hukill, Dorothy 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 0 -5 0 -5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 -10
Latvala, Jack 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 -5 5 -5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 10
Lee, Tom 5 0 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 0 -5 5 -5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 -10
Legg, John -5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 -5 5 -5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 -10
Negron, Joe 5 0 0 0 -5 0 -5 5 5 0 -5 5 -5 5 -5 -5 0 -5 0 -5 -15
Richter, Garrett 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 -5 5 -5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 0
Simmons, David 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 -5 5 -5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 0
SENATE REPUBLICAN RANKINGS
Liberty First Network 19
Name 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Ext 5 Total
Simpson, Wilton 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 -5 5 -5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 0
Stargel, Kelli 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 -5 5 -5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 0
Thrasher, John 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 -5 0 -5 0 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 -10
SENATE REPUBLICAN RANKINGS
SENATE DEMOCRAT RANKINGS
SENATE REPUBLICANS AVERAGE SCORE 3.65
Name 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Ext 5 Total
Abruzzo, Joseph 5 5 5 5 -5 0 -5 5 5 5 -5 5 -5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 5
Braynon, Oscar -5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 0 -5 5 -5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 -15
Bullard, Dwight -5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 -5 5 -5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 0
Clemens, Jeff 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 -5 5 -5 5 -5 -5 5 -5 5 5 20
Gibson, Audrey 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 -10
Joyner, Aretha -5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 -5 -5 5 -5 5 -5 -5 5 -5 5 5 -20
Margolis, Gwen -5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 -5 5 -5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 -20
Montford, Bill 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 -5 5 -5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 0
Ring, Jeremy -5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 -5 5 -5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 5 -5
Sachs, Maria 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 0 -5 5 -5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 -15
Smith, Christopher -5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 -5 5 -5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 -20
Sobel, Eleanor 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 -5 -5 5 -5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 -20
Soto, Darren 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 5 -5 5 -5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 0
Thompson, Geraldine 5 5 5 5 -5 -5 -5 5 5 0 -5 5 -5 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 -5 -5
SENATE DEMOCRATS AVERAGE SCORE -7.5
House Bills Reviewed
HB 89 Treatened Use of Force
HB 523 Licensure to Carry a Concealed Weapon or Firearm
HB 525 Public Records / Personal Identifying Information / Licensure to Carry
Concealed Weapon or Firearm
HB 7029 Code of Student Conduct
HB 7095 Professional Sports Facilities
HB 53 Inmate Re-entry
HB 5001 General Appropriations Act
HB 599/SB 226 Public Records / Automated License Plate
Recognition Systems Exemption
HB 7123/SB 156 Motor Vehicle and Mobile Home Taxes, Fees, and Surcharges
HB 879/SB 542 Flood Insurance
HB 209 Carrying Concealed Weapon or Concealed Firearm
HB 343 Rental Car Surcharge
HB 7053/SB 684 State Economic Enhancement and Development Trust Fund
/ Department of Economic Opportunity
SB 2514 Bicycle and Pedestrian Ways
HB 7181 - Public Retirement Plans
HB 231 - Admissions Tax
HB 1237/SB 1632 Special Districts
HB 1385 Inspectors General
HB 115 Public Meetings / University Direct-Support Organization
HB 227 Victims of Wrongful Incarceration
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Senate Bills Reviewed
SB 448/HB 89 Treatened Use of Force
SB 544/HB 523 Licensure to Carry a Concealed Weapon or Firearm
SB 546/HB 525 Public Records / Personal Identifying Information / Licensure
to Carry Concealed Weapon or Firearm
SB 1060/HB 7029 Code of Student Conduct
SB 1216/HB 7095 Professional Sports Facilities
SB 274/HB 53 Inmate Re-entry
HB 5001 General Appropriations Act
SB 226 Public Records / Automated License Plate Recognition Systems Exemption
SB 156/HB 7123 Motor Vehicle and Mobile Home Taxes, Fees, and Surcharges
SB 542 Flood Insurance
SB 484/HB 343 Rental Car Surcharge
SB 1328/HB 1385 Inspectors General
SB 1576 Springs
SB 326/HB 227 Victims of Wrongful Incarceration
SB 684/HB 7053 State Economic Enhancement and Development Trust Fund
/ Department of Economic Opportunity
SB 2514 Bicycle and Pedestrian Ways
SB 318/HB 115 Public Meetings / University Direct-Support Organization
SB 330/HB 231 Admissions Tax
SB 1632 Special Districts
SB 1714 Malt Beverages
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Liberty First Network 21
House Bills
1. HB 89 Threatened Use of Force SUPPORTED
HB 89, nicknamed the Warning Shot Bill, addresses the problem of
overzealous prosecutors using the 10-20-Life law to prosecute citizens
ring a warning shot in self-defense from imminent danger. Currently,
a person who res a warning shot can be convicted of felony assault with
a deadly weapon and sentenced under the mandatory minimums. If the
potential victim instead used deadly force, he or she could receive immunity
under self defense laws. Tis new law would add immunity for threatening
the use of force to Floridas stand your ground self-defense law.
HB 89 passed the House 93-24 and the Senate 32-7.
2. HB 523 Licensure to Carry a Concealed Weapon or Firearm
SUPPORTED
HB 523 will expedite the process of obtaining a concealed weapons
permit. Instead of the long process of going through the Department of
Agriculture in Tallahassee, citizens will be able to apply for a concealed
weapons permit from their local tax collectors oce.
HB 523 passed the House 94-22 and the Senate 35-0.
3. HB 525 Public Records / Personal Identifying Information /
Licensure to Carry Concealed Weapon or Firearm SUPPORTED
HB 525 is linked to HB 523 and will expand a public-records exemption
that shields the identities of people who apply for and receive concealed-
carry licenses from the state. HB 525 would extend this exemption to
county tax collectors.
HB 525 passed the House 112-4 and the Senate 37-1.
4. HB 7029 Code of Student Conduct SUPPORTED
HB 7029, nicknamed the Pop-Tart Bill, which is a reference to an
incident last year where a 7-year old student was suspended for chewing
a pastry into the shape of a gun. Te suspension was a gross overreaction
to the school policy of zero tolerance guidelines in simulated gun play.
HB 7029 will loosen those guidelines and allow for pastry, snap together
blocks and drawings to be in the shape of a weapon without punishment.
HB 7029 passed the House 98-17 and the Senate 32-6.
5. HB 7095 Professional Sports Facilities OPPOSED
Essentially, the State of Florida is taking our taxpayer money and handing
it out to billionaires. Te Florida Legislature currently budgets monthly
payments from the state of $166,667 for 30 years, for an annual payment
totaling $2,000,004 to each of the nine major sports franchises (e.g. the
Miami Dolphins). HB 7095 is just another taxpayer hand-out to owners of
sports teams. New taxpayer money would be available for privately owned
stadiums to build or renovate sporting centers. Teams would apply to the
states Department of Economic Opportunity for sales tax rebate funding.
Public money can be used for constructing, reconstructing, renovating, or
improving a facility or reimbursing such costs. Economists consistently
nd that stadium construction subsidies fail to generate much, if any,
economic impact in local markets in terms of metro-area wide employ-
ment and income. Sports subsidies are a poor use of taxpayer money.
HB 7095 passed the House 89-27 and the Senate 35-3.
6. HB 53 Inmate Re-entry OPPOSED
Te worthy premise of helping inmates re-enter society is eclipsed by
aording them preferential treatment to which non-felon citizens are not
entitled. Inmates receive a free ID card that other citizens must pay $48
22 2014 Legislative Score Card
to obtain; the new law provides Florida born inmates with a free birth
certicate valued from $9 to $34. It also requires the use of tax dollars to
assist felons to secure any out-of-state documents required for REAL ID.
To obtain a drivers license, women in particular, have been penalized
potentially hundreds of dollars in fees to acquire the paperwork required
to re-prove their identities. The federal REAL ID Act, was adopted
by the Florida Legislature in 2008 and put into eect January 1, 2010.
Te best and most cost-eective solution would be to repeal REAL ID
in Florida, as several other states have done. Florida should allow inmates
to use Dept. of Correction IDs to obtain a state ID, since they have been
ngerprinted via the criminal justice system for identity verication.
HB 53 passed the House 116-1 and the Senate 36-0.
7. HB 5001 General Appropriations Act OPPOSED
Te Florida Legislature passed a record spending budget of $77.1 billion
that included substantial handouts to special interest groups and local
projects. Since 2014 is an election year, legislators assured they took care
of their big-money donors, instead of issuing any real, meaningful tax
reductions to all Floridians. Tis increase in the budget means the size of
government grew yet again. Unfortunately, if you are not in the market for
bicycle helmets or a new Energy Star washer or dryer during one tax-free
week of the year, you will not receive much tax relief. Legislators should
instead propose a reduction in the size and scope of the state government
and put the money back where it belongs, in the hands of Floridians.
HB 5001 passed the House 102-15 and the Senate 40-0.
8. HB 599/SB 226 Public Records / Automated License Plate
Recognition Systems Exemption SUPPORTED
SB 226 would place guidelines on the use of license plate scanners used by
law enforcement. Tese cameras capture the date, time and location of the
vehicles of innocent truckers and motorists and retain the data ranging
from as little as a couple of days to as long as a decade. SB 226 would
implement a statewide policy to prohibit making information public
record. It also allows the vehicle owner access to his or her own information.
SB 226 passed the House 116-0 and the Senate 38-1.
9. HB 7123/SB 156 Motor Vehicle and Mobile Home Taxes, Fees,
and Surcharges SUPPORTED
HB 7123 would roll back vehicle registration fees by $395 million or
approximately $25 for a typical car registration. Te Florida legislature
increased the rates in 2009 as part of a $2 billion tax and fee hike. Te
increase hurt Floridians during the economic collapse of 2009. When
Senate President Don Gaetz was asked why he voted for the increase
in 2009, he replied, Hey, we need to keep the lights on in the Capitol.
Floridians were burdened by this increase but at least Senator Gaetz had
the lights on in his oce. Tis is a record year for state spending and
taxpayers deserve more than this tepid cut. At least it is a broader based
tax reduction than the sales tax holidays for pet food and bicycle helmets.
SB 156 passed the House 116-0 and the Senate 40-0.
10. HB 879/SB 542 Flood Insurance SUPPORTED
SB 542 creates a regulatory framework for a private market ood insur-
ance program in the state. SB 542 would encourage the use of private-
market ood insurance, which will increase competition and provide
consumers with more coverage choices than just the federal National
Flood Insurance Program. SB 542 also prohibits Floridas Citizens
Property Insurance Corporation from writing ood insurance policies
and prevents the reimbursement for ood losses from the Florida
Liberty First Network 23
Hurricane Catastrophe Fund. Tis will reduce the taxpayer liability of the
government run property insurance program. SB 542 is a good start for
bringing back free market principles to the property insurance market.
SB 542 passed the House 98-11 and the Senate 30-3.
11. HB 209 Carrying Concealed Weapon or Concealed Firearm
SUPPORTED
Tis act concerns carrying a concealed weapon or rearm during a man-
datory evacuation while under a declared state of emergency. Te bill would
eliminate criminal prosecution for anyone carrying concealed rearms
under a state of emergency evacuation. Tis would essentially bypass any
licensing requirement for persons carrying concealed rearms under
those specic conditions. Tis was a critical issue during the evacuations
before Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans as gun owners were forced to
leave their weapons behind during the evacuation. In the aftermath of the
storm, homes were looted and stolen weapons wound up in the hands of
criminals instead of law abiding gun owners.
HB 209 passed the House 80-36 and, unfortunately, died in the Senate.
12. HB 343 Rental Car Surcharge OPPOSED
HB 343 imposes a surcharge (tax) and regulations on car-sharing ser-
vices. Akin to a timeshare or club service in the vacation industry, a
car-share user pays a monthly membership to be part owner of a car.
Te vehicle is kept at a central location and the joint owners use the
car as needed. Te car-share company schedules the usage of the vehicle
to avoid conicting appointments between the owners of the vehicle.
Tis legislation would place a $1 surcharge each time the vehicle is used
for less than 24-hours and a $2 surcharge for every 24-hour period the
vehicle is in use. Te automobiles are already taxed upon purchase, taxed
annually as tangible items, and the prot on car-share businesses is
subjected to corporate income tax. Te addition of a usage surcharge is
an unnecessary and burdensome tax on individuals who seek to travel
aordably without the expense associated with full-time car ownership.
HB 343 passed the House 115-0 and the Senate 40-0.
13. HB 7053/SB 684 State Economic Enhancement and Develop-
ment Trust Fund / Department of Economic Opportunity OPPOSED
HB 7053 reauthorizes the State Economic Enhancement and Develop-
ment Trust Fund (SEED). Tis is a long name for what amounts to a
corporate welfare fund. Te SEED trust fund allocates taxpayer money
to huge corporations in the name of economic development. Granting
economic incentives to certain hand-picked companies provides them
with a competitive advantage. Tis allows the political class to inuence
which businesses succeed or fail in the marketplace. Businesses with the
most political clout and lobbyists receive the corporate subsidies while
politicians claim they are creating jobs. Power is shifted away from the
citizen to the elite class of government ocials. Consumers are left with
fewer choices and less inuence in the marketplace.
SB 684 passed the House 117-0 and the Senate 40-0.
14. SB 2514 Bicycle and Pedestrian Ways OPPOSED
SB 2514 authorizes the Department of Transportation to fund the establish-
ment of a statewide system of interconnected bike paths and bike trails.
Te goal is to link a series of existing, but separate trails into one connected,
continuous greenway system of bike paths and pedestrian trails all across
Florida. Part of this statewide eort is the Coast-to-Coast Connector
which is a 275 mile project from the Atlantic Ocean to the Gulf Coast in
central Florida. Tis would eventually tie into the system crisscrossing the
24 2014 Legislative Score Card
state. Tis, of course, is a stated goal of the Smart Growth schemes (e.g.
7/50 in south Florida) that will strip away our property rights by pushing
us into high density urban centers while forcing us to relinquish our cars
to use bikes or public transit or to walk to work and shopping. In addition,
it is unnecessary spending of taxpayer funds.
SB 2514 passed the House 113-4 and the Senate 39-0.
15. HB 7181 - Public Retirement Plans - SUPPORTED
HB 7181 would place newly hired public employees into a dened
contribution 401(k) style investment plan. Due to expense and long-
term obligations, more and more employers are replacing dened benet
plans with dened contribution plans. Currently, the Florida Retirement
System serves more than 623,000 active members and 334,000 retirees.
It provides the primary retirement plan for public employees at the state
and county level, district school boards, community colleges and universi-
ties, 185 cities and more than 250 special districts. Te dened benet
program was 86 percent funded as of June 30, which put Floridas system,
the nations fourth largest, among the top states in terms of funding its
public retirement system.
Under House bill HB 7181, new state workers will default into an investment
retirement plan similar to a 401(k) unless they opt into the traditional pension
plan. Elected ocials and those in senior management positions, with
the exception of judges, who begin their jobs after July 1, 2015, will not be
eligible to receive the pension plan. In addition, the House bill increases
the pension vesting period for new employees in the Florida Retirement
System from 8 years to 10. Although the Florida Retirement System is
relatively viable for now, future trends could lead to nancial stress for the
system. It is prudent to begin moving towards a dened contribution plan
sooner than later to assure public employees will have a dependable
retirement income and not have to go through the disruptions that
Detroit and other city and counties are experiencing today.
HB 7181 passed the House 74-44, unfortunately, HB 7181 died in the Senate.
16. HB 231 - Admissions Tax OPPOSED
Under existing Florida Law, every person who sells or receives anything
of value by way of admissions is exercising a taxable privilege at the rate
of 6% of the sales price. Section 212.04 of the Florida Statute exempts
specied sporting events from this admissions tax, including all-star
games produced by the National Football League (NFL), Major League
Baseball (MLB), National Hockey League (NHL), and National Basket-
ball Association (NBA). In addition, the MLB Home Run Derby, held in
conjunction with the MLB All-Star Game, the Rookie Challenge,
Celebrity Game, 3-Point Shooting Contest and Slam Dunk Challenge,
all produced as part of the NBAs All-Star Game festivities, are also
exempt from the admissions tax.
With HB 231, the Major League Soccer All-Star Game is added to the
list of events exempted from the sales tax on admissions. It also replaces
the list of specic NBA All-Star Game-associated events exempted
under current law with language that includes all NBA produced all-star
events held at an arena, convention center, municipal facility or other such
facility. As we mentioned earlier, the Legislature uses taxpayer money to
give major sports teams $2 million annually for 30 years. Tey receive
numerous other tax benets at our expense. HB 231 is just another
corporate welfare break to billionaire owners, while taxpayers foot the bill.
HB 231 passed the House 114-0 and the Senate 37-2.
17. HB 1237/SB 1632 Special Districts SUPPORTED
SB 1632 requires Special Districts to maintain a high degree of account-
Liberty First Network 25
ability and transparency in regard to expenditure of taxpayer money.
Special Districts are local units of specic purpose government, within
limited geographical areas, used to manage, own, operate, maintain, and
nance basic capital infrastructure, facilities, and services. SB 1632 requires
Special Districts to publish their budgets, taxes assessed, and audits on-
line for public consumption. One example of a Special District is a Down-
town Development Authority (DDA) specically established to revitalize
a downtown area. Oftentimes, DDAs fail to dissolve and property owners
must absorb the cost to fund the DDA beyond their intended purpose.
SB 1632 will force these DDAs and other Special Districts to be more
transparent with their use of taxpayer money.
SB 1632 passed the House 115-0 and the Senate 38-0.
18. HB 1385 Inspectors General SUPPORTED
Te Oce of Inspector General (IG) is established in each state agency to
provide a central point for the coordination and responsibility of activi-
ties that promote accountability, integrity, and eciency in government.
Te role of the IG is to act as a watchdog to assure taxpayer money is
not misused or wasted. Under current law there is also the Oce of
the Chief Inspector General (CIG) within the Executive Oce of the
Governor. Te CIG, under the Governors jurisdiction, monitors the
activities of the Inspector General, who is appointed by the head of
each individual state agency. HB 1385 requires Inspectors General to
instead report directly to the governors Chief Inspector General so as
to avoid any conict of interest or ethics violations associated with job
security. Tis bill should allow Inspectors General to report waste and
fraud in an agency without fear of retribution or job loss.
HB 1385 passed the House 114-0 and the Senate 37-1.
19. HB 115 Public Meetings / University Direct-Support
Organization (DSO) OPPOSED
HB 115 provides exemption from public meeting requirements for
any portion of meetings held by a university DSO board of directors,
executive committee or other committees of board where proposal
seeking research funding from an organization, plan or program for
initiating or supporting research is discussed. Public university research
or expert knowledge are often used as justication for new legislation
or public policy. HB 115 would permit large companies to commission
research privately thereby withholding any potential bias from the public
eye. Disclosure of sources of funding for university research is vital to
comprehension of potential issues or biases aecting the research process.
HB 115 passed the House 83-33 and the Senate 36-2
20. HB 227 Victims of Wrongful Incarceration SUPPORTED
HB 227 provides that a wrongfully incarcerated person who was convicted
and sentenced to death on or before December 31, 1979, is exempt from
certain application procedures for compensation if special prosecutor
declares nolle prosequi or lack of evidence after review of the conviction.
Currently a person convicted of a crime who is released due to lack of
evidence does not automatically have the right to a wrongful incarcera-
tion judgment. If a person has been found not guilty, he/she has the right
to le a wrongful incarceration suit and may be entitled to compensation
for time lost. Up until now, if a person has been released due to a motion
for nolle prosequi, he/she has not had the right to be compensated for time
wrongfully incarcerated. HB 227 allows defendants issued a nolle prosequi
to be eligible for such compensation. Tis reinforces the presumption of
innocence until proved guilty. If there is not enough evidence to convict
the defendant, we must presume innocence and entitle him or her to the
26 2014 Legislative Score Card
same wrongful incarceration rights as defendants who were exonerated.
HB 227 passed the House 116-0 and the Senate 38-0
HOUSE BILLS FILED AND NEVER HEARD -
NO RECORDED VOTES
HB 25 (SB 1316) Common Core Pause GOOD BILL
NEVER HEARD
HB 835 (SB 480) Commission on Federalism GOOD BILL
NEVER HEARD
HB 4009 (SB 144) Red Light Camera Repeal GOOD BILL
NEVER HEARD
HB 733 Second Amendment Preservation Act GOOD BILL
WITHDRAWN. NEVER HEARD
HB 4001 Nuclear and Integrated Gasifcation Combined Cycle
Power Plants GOOD BILL
NEVER HEARD
Senate Bills
1. SB 448/HB 89 Threatened Use of Force SUPPORTED
HB 89, nicknamed the Warning Shot Bill, addresses the problem of
overzealous prosecutors using the 10-20-Life law to prosecute citizens
ring a warning shot in self-defense from imminent danger. Currently,
a person who res a warning shot can be convicted of felony assault with
a deadly weapon and sentenced under the mandatory minimums. If the
potential victim instead used deadly force, he or she could receive immunity
under self defense laws. Tis new law would add immunity for threatening
the use of force to Floridas stand your ground self-defense law.
HB 89 passed the House 93-24 and the Senate 32-7.
2. SB 544/HB 523 Licensure to Carry a Concealed Weapon or
Firearm SUPPORTED
HB 523 will expedite the process of obtaining a concealed weapons
permit. Instead of the long process of going through the Department of
Agriculture in Tallahassee, citizens will be able to apply for a concealed
weapons permit from their local tax collectors oce.
HB 523 passed the House 94-22 and the Senate 35-0.
3. SB 546/HB 525 Public Records / Personal Identifying Information /
Licensure to Carry Concealed Weapon or Firearm SUPPORTED
HB 525 is linked to HB 523 and will expand a public-records exemption
that shields the identities of people who apply for and receive concealed-carry
licenses from the state. HB 525 extends this exemption to county tax collectors.
HB 525 passed the House 112-4 and the Senate 37-1.
4. SB 1060/HB 7029 Code of Student Conduct SUPPORTED
HB 7029, nicknamed the Pop-Tart Bill, which is a reference to an
incident last year where a 7-year old student was suspended for chewing
a pastry into the shape of a gun. Te suspension was a gross overreaction
to the school policy of zero tolerance guidelines in simulated gun play.
HB 7029 will loosen those guidelines and allow for pastry, snap together
blocks and drawings to be in the shape of a weapon without punishment.
HB 7029 passed the House 98-17 and the Senate 32-6.
Liberty First Network 27
5. SB 1216/HB 7095 Professional Sports Facilities OPPOSED
Essentially, the State of Florida is taking our taxpayer money and handing
it out to billionaires. Te Florida Legislature currently budgets monthly
payments from the state of $166,667 for 30 years, for an annual payment
totaling $2,000,004 to each of the nine major sports franchises (e.g. the
Miami Dolphins). HB 7095 is just another taxpayer hand-out to owners of
sports teams. New taxpayer money would be available for privately owned
stadiums to build or renovate sporting centers. Teams would apply to the
states Department of Economic Opportunity for sales tax rebate funding.
Public money can be used for constructing, reconstructing, renovating, or
improving a facility or reimbursing such costs. Economists consistently
nd that stadium construction subsidies fail to generate much, if any,
economic impact in local markets in terms of metro-area wide employ-
ment and income. Sports subsidies are a poor use of taxpayer money.
HB 7095 passed the House 89-27 and the Senate 35-3.
6. SB 274/HB 53 Inmate Re-entry OPPOSED
Te worthy premise of helping inmates re-enter society is eclipsed by
aording them preferential treatment to which non-felon citizens are not
entitled. Inmates receive a free ID card that other citizens must pay $48
to obtain; the new law provides Florida born inmates with a free birth
certicate valued from $9 to $34. It also requires the use of tax dollars to
assist felons to secure any out-of-state documents required for REAL ID.
To obtain a drivers license, women in particular, have been penalized
potentially hundreds of dollars in fees to acquire the paperwork required
to re-prove their identities. The federal REAL ID Act, was adopted
by the Florida Legislature in 2008 and put into eect January 1, 2010.
Te best and most cost-eective solution would be to repeal REAL ID
in Florida, as several other states have done. Florida should allow inmates
to use Dept. of Correction IDs to obtain a state ID, since they have been
ngerprinted via the criminal justice system for identity verication.
HB 53 passed the House 116-1 and the Senate 36-0.
7. HB 5001 General Appropriations Act OPPOSED
Te Florida Legislature passed a record spending budget of $77.1 billion
that included substantial handouts to special interest groups and local
projects. Since 2014 is an election year, legislators assured they took care
of their big-money donors, instead of issuing any real, meaningful tax
reductions to all Floridians. Tis increase in the budget means the size of
government grew yet again. Unfortunately, if you are not in the market for
bicycle helmets or a new Energy Star washer or dryer during one tax-free
week of the year, you will not receive much tax relief. Legislators should
instead propose a reduction in the size and scope of the state government
and put the money back where it belongs, in the hands of Floridians.
HB 5001 passed the House 102-15 and the Senate 40-0.
8. SB 226 Public Records / Automated License Plate Recognition
Systems Exemption SUPPORTED
SB 226 would place guidelines on the use of license plate scanners used by
law enforcement. Tese cameras capture the date, time and location of the
vehicles of innocent truckers and motorists and retain the data ranging
from as little as a couple of days to as long as a decade. SB 226 would
implement a statewide policy to prohibit making information public
record. It also allows the vehicle owner access to his or her own information.
SB 226 passed the House 116-0 and the Senate 38-1.
28 2014 Legislative Score Card
9. SB 156/HB 7123 Motor Vehicle and Mobile Home Taxes, Fees,
and Surcharges SUPPORTED
HB 7123 would roll back vehicle registration fees by $395 million or
approximately $25 for a typical car registration. Te Florida legislature
increased the rates in 2009 as part of a $2 billion tax and fee hike. Te
increase hurt Floridians during the economic collapse of 2009. When
Senate President Don Gaetz was asked why he voted for the increase
in 2009, he replied, Hey, we need to keep the lights on in the Capitol.
Floridians were burdened by this increase but at least Senator Gaetz had
the lights on in his oce. Tis is a record year for state spending and
taxpayers deserve more than this tepid cut. At least it is a broader based
tax reduction than the sales tax holidays for pet food and bicycle helmets.
SB 156 passed the House 116-0 and the Senate 40-0.
10. SB 542 Flood Insurance SUPPORTED
SB 542 creates a regulatory framework for a private market ood insur-
ance program in the state. SB 542 would encourage the use of private-
market ood insurance, which will increase competition and provide
consumers with more coverage choices than just the federal National
Flood Insurance Program. SB 542 also prohibits Floridas Citizens
Property Insurance Corporation from writing ood insurance policies
and prevents the reimbursement for ood losses from the Florida
Hurricane Catastrophe Fund. Tis will reduce the taxpayer liability of the
government run property insurance program. SB 542 is a good start for
bringing back free market principles to the property insurance market.
SB 542 passed the House 98-11 and the Senate 30-3.
11. SB 484/HB 343 Rental Car Surcharge OPPOSED
HB 343 imposes a surcharge (tax) and regulations on car-sharing services.
Akin to a timeshare or club service in the vacation industry, a car-share
user pays a monthly membership to be part owner of a car. Te vehicle
is kept at a central location and the joint owners use the car as needed.
Te car-share company schedules the usage of the vehicle to avoid con-
icting appointments between the owners of the vehicle. Tis legisla-
tion would place a $1 surcharge each time the vehicle is used for less than
24-hours and a $2 surcharge for every 24-hour period the vehicle is in
use. Te automobiles are already taxed upon purchase, taxed annually as
tangible items, and the prot on car-share businesses is subjected to cor-
porate income tax. Te addition of a usage surcharge is an unnecessary
and burdensome tax on individuals who seek to travel aordably without
the expense associated with full-time car ownership.
HB 343 passed the House 115-0 and the Senate 40-0
12. SB 1328/HB 1385 Inspectors General SUPPORTED
Te Oce of Inspector General (IG) is established in each state agency
to provide a central point for the coordination and responsibility of
activities that promote accountability, integrity, and eciency in
government. Te role of the IG is to act as a watchdog to assure
taxpayer money is not misused or wasted. Under current law there is
also the Oce of the Chief Inspector General (CIG) within the
Executive Oce of the Governor. Te CIG, under the Governors
jurisdiction, monitors the activities of the Inspector General, who is
appointed by the head of each individual state agency. HB 1385
requires Inspectors General to instead report directly to the governors
Chief Inspector General so as to avoid any conict of interest or ethics
violations associated with job security. Tis bill should allow Inspectors
General to report waste and fraud in an agency without fear of
retribution or job loss.
HB 1385 passed the House 114-0 and the Senate 37-1.
Liberty First Network 29
13. SB 1576 Springs OPPOSED
Te Florida legislature has engaged in a war against property owners with
septic tanks. Tey state that leaks from septic tanks are polluting springs
throughout the state. Te problem is that there is no scientic evidence to
verify the claim. A septic tank study in 2007 revealed that out of 55,000
septic tanks near the Wekiva Springs, only three were tested during a
short span of time. Te results were inconclusive and the study indicated
that further studies would be needed to reach any substantive conclusion.
SB 1576 calls for connecting homes to sewer systems and creates a new
layer of local government called a Responsible Management Entity (RME).
Tis entity will consist of non-elected appointees with the authority to
force you into an expensive new sewer system. SB 1576 would impose a
nancial burden on property owners without any compelling scientic
evidence of pollution. Ironically, industry experts admit that even public
sewer system pipes leak sewage into the environment.
SB 1576 passed the Senate 38-0 and, fortunately, this bad bill died in the House.
14. SB 326/HB 227 Victims of Wrongful Incarceration
SUPPORTED
HB 227 provides that a wrongfully incarcerated person who was convicted
and sentenced to death on or before December 31, 1979, is exempt from
certain application procedures for compensation if special prosecutor
declares nolle prosequi or lack of evidence after review of the conviction.
Currently a person convicted of a crime who is released due to lack of
evidence does not automatically have the right to a wrongful incarcera-
tion judgment. If a person has been found not guilty, he/she has the right
to le a wrongful incarceration suit and may be entitled to compensation
for time lost. Up until now, if a person has been released due to a motion
for nolle prosequi, he/she has not had the right to be compensated for time
wrongfully incarcerated. HB 227 allows defendants issued a nolle prosequi
to be eligible for such compensation. Tis reinforces the presumption of
innocence until proved guilty. If there is not enough evidence to convict
the defendant, we must presume innocence and entitle him or her to the
same wrongful incarceration rights as defendants who were exonerated.
HB 227 passed the House 116-0 and the Senate 38-0
15. SB 684/HB 7053 State Economic Enhancement and Develop-
ment Trust Fund / Department of Economic Opportunity OPPOSED
HB 7053 reauthorizes the State Economic Enhancement and Develop-
ment Trust Fund (SEED). Tis is a long name for what amounts to a
corporate welfare fund. Te SEED trust fund allocates taxpayer money
to huge corporations in the name of economic development. Granting
economic incentives to certain hand-picked companies provides them
with a competitive advantage. Tis allows the political class to inuence
which businesses succeed or fail in the marketplace. Businesses with the
most political clout and lobbyists receive the corporate subsidies while
politicians claim they are creating jobs. Power is shifted away from the
citizen to the elite class of government ocials. Consumers are left with
fewer choices and less inuence in the marketplace.
SB 684 passed the House 117-0 and the Senate 40-0.
16. SB 2514 Bicycle and Pedestrian Ways OPPOSED
SB 2514 authorizes the Department of Transportation to fund the establish-
ment of a statewide system of interconnected bike paths and bike trails.
Te goal is to link a series of existing, but separate trails into one connected,
continuous greenway system of bike paths and pedestrian trails all across
Florida. Part of this statewide eort is the Coast-to-Coast Connector
which is a 275 mile project from the Atlantic Ocean to the Gulf Coast in
30 2014 Legislative Score Card
central Florida. Tis would eventually tie into the system crisscrossing the
state. Tis, of course, is a stated goal of the Smart Growth schemes (e.g.
7/50 in south Florida) that will strip away our property rights by pushing
us into high density urban centers while forcing us to relinquish our cars
to use bikes or public transit or to walk to work and shopping. In addition,
it is unnecessary spending of taxpayer funds.
SB 2514 passed the House 113-4 and the Senate 39-0.
17. SB 318/HB 115 Public Meetings / University Direct-Support
Organization OPPOSED
HB 115 provides exemption from public meeting requirements for
any portion of meetings held by a university DSO board of directors,
executive committee or other committees of board where proposal
seeking research funding from an organization, plan or program for
initiating or supporting research is discussed. Public university research
or expert knowledge are often used as justication for new legislation
or public policy. HB 115 would permit large companies to commission
research privately thereby withholding any potential bias from the public
eye. Disclosure of sources of funding for university research is vital to
comprehension of potential issues or biases aecting the research process.
HB 115 passed the House 83-33 and the Senate 36-2
18. SB 330/HB 231 Admissions Tax OPPOSED
Under existing Florida Law, every person who sells or receives anything
of value by way of admissions is exercising a taxable privilege at the rate
of 6% of the sales price. Section 212.04 of the Florida Statute exempts
specied sporting events from this admissions tax, including all-star
games produced by the National Football League (NFL), Major League
Baseball (MLB), National Hockey League (NHL), and National Basket-
ball Association (NBA). In addition, the MLB Home Run Derby, held
in conjunction with the MLB All-Star Game, the Rookie Challenge,
Celebrity Game, 3-Point Shooting Contest and Slam Dunk Challenge,
all produced as part of the NBAs All-Star Game festivities, are also
exempt from the admissions tax.
With HB 231, the Major League Soccer All-Star Game is added to the
list of events exempted from the sales tax on admissions. It also replaces
the list of specic NBA All-Star Game-associated events exempted
under current law with language that includes all NBA produced all-star
events held at an arena, convention center, municipal facility or other such
facility. As we mentioned earlier, the Legislature uses taxpayer money to
give major sports teams $2 million annually for 30 years. Tey receive
numerous other tax benets at our expense. HB 231 is just another
corporate welfare break to billionaire owners, while taxpayers foot the bill.
HB 231 passed the House 114-0 and the Senate 37-2.
19. SB 1632 Special Districts SUPPORTED
SB 1632 requires Special Districts to maintain a high degree of account-
ability and transparency in regard to expenditure of taxpayer money.
Special Districts are local units of specic purpose government, within
limited geographical areas, used to manage, own, operate, maintain, and
nance basic capital infrastructure, facilities, and services. SB 1632 requires
Special Districts to publish their budgets, taxes assessed, and audits on-
line for public consumption. One example of a Special District is a Down-
town Development Authority (DDA) specically established to revitalize
a downtown area. Oftentimes, DDAs fail to dissolve and property owners
must absorb the cost to fund the DDA beyond their intended purpose.
SB 1632 will force these DDAs and other Special Districts to be more
transparent with their use of taxpayer money.
SB 1632 passed the House 115-0 and the Senate 38-0.
Liberty First Network 31
20. SB 1714 Malt Beverages OPPOSED
Tis legislation went through several iterations this session. Te nal
version of SB 1714 permits craft breweries to sell 64oz growlers for
o-premise consumption and retains the existing exemption on micro-
breweries that do not brew in excess of 2,000 kegs per year (in eect, no
change to current business operations). In addition, all breweries
manufacturing more than 2,000 kegs per year may sell craft beer for on-
site consumption by tap and growlers for o site consumption. However,
the sale of sealed beverages must not exceed 20% of total sales without
the use of a distributor. Any sealed product in excess of 20% of the total
brew must be sold to a distributor and purchased back by the brewer at a
higher price in order to sell their own product at the brewery.
SB 1714 passed in the Senate 30-10 and, fortunately, died in the House.
GOOD SENATE BILLS FILED AND NEVER HEARD
NO RECORDED VOTES
SB 144 Red Light Camera Repeal GOOD BILL
DEBATED IN ONE COMMITTEE NO FURTHER ACTION
SB 1316 Common Core Pause GOOD BILL
NEVER HEARD
SB 480 Commission on Federalism GOOD BILL
NEVER HEARD
SB 1346 Option to Real ID GOOD BILL
NEVER HEARD
SB 1476 Public Records / Automated Trafc Law
Enforcement System public records from Red Light Cameras
Good Bill
NEVER HEARD
The Liberty First Network
1334 Tampa Rd #6, Palm Harbor, FL 34683
info@libertyfrstf.org
http://www.libertyfrstf.org
It is upon us, the citizen,
to ensure that freedom is guaranteed
and that our government is limited
in a manner so as not to impede
on our liberty.
~ JOHN HALLMAN