This week, the Associated Industries of Florida (AIF) released its 2022 Voting Records and announced its 2022 Champions for Business award recipients.
AIF’s Voting Records report is the definitive legislative scorecard for the business community that tabulates the voting conduct of each member of the Florida Legislature during the 2022 Regular Legislative Session and Special Session D. The Voting Records reports on the votes made by every legislator on bills that were advocated, promoted or opposed by AIF. By reporting on the 3,755 votes cast by legislators on 49 bills, this publication embodies the most exhaustive and complete record of the Legislature’s cumulative approach to the concerns of Florida’s employers.
“AIF goes to great lengths to ensure that legislators are aware of our positions on issues of great importance to the business community, from the session priorities that we release prior to every session to ongoing briefs we share with lawmakers on important issues throughout the session as bills and amendments move through the process” said AIF’s President and CEO Brewster Bevis. “For 48 years, AIF has published Voting Records, yet these records only tell part of the story. AIF also helps its member companies detect which bills and amendments are filed and by whom and who is taking part in behind-the-scenes efforts and debates on behalf of the business community. These intangible forms of support through non-voting actions are also of vital importance and merit recognition.”
“The calculated percentages we have used in years past to determine a legislator’s score are a simple and easy tool used by both AIF members and legislators. However, from time to time, an issue arises that affects the majority of all Florida businesses regardless of industry, size, location, etc. Issues such as workers’ compensation, tort reform, and across the board business taxes are always top priorities for AIF. More recently, consumer data privacy was a top-tier issue debated in the Capitol due to its wide impact on the business community. All of these factors are considered when AIF makes recommendations to our members as to which legislators truly show strong support for Florida’s business community and that is why this report is an in an invaluable tool,” said AIF’s VP of Governmental Affairs Adam Basford.
Along with its Voting Records report, AIF also names its Champions for Business every year since 2003, which recognizes the elected officials who provided strong leadership in advancing key legislation and has taken risks for their beliefs in the success of Florida’s business community.
“A true ‘Champion for Business’ is a legislator who takes risks for his or her belief in the free-enterprise system, defies the status quo when it is harmful to our state’s competitive climate and faces down the opponents to the growing prosperity of Florida’s citizens,” said Bevis. “Each of the six legislators honored this year are the epitome of a champion for business, and we thank them for their unwavering support of the business community in Florida.”
For the 2022 Legislative Session, AIF awarded the following elected leaders with the Champions for Business distinction:
Senate President Wilton Simpson (R-Trilby) for his steadfast leadership in standing strong with the business community’s position on data privacy and supporting sound environmental policy.
Senator Kathleen Passidomo (R-Naples) for her diligent efforts in working closely with AIF on the proposed data privacy legislation and allowing the business community to provide input and feedback.
Senator Ben Albritton (R-Bartow) for his efforts to provide additional accountability for environmental spending in a way that ensures all legal users have access to water resources while providing significant environmental enhancements.
Senator Jim Boyd (R-Bradenton) for his efforts to provide solutions to Florida’s property insurance crisis.
Representative Jay Trumbull (R-Panama City) for his efforts to provide solutions to Florida’s property insurance crisis.
Representative Andrew Learned (D-Riverview) for his efforts to make significant changes to consumer data privacy legislation.
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