FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
Edie Ousley
(850) 521-1231
eousley@flchamber.com
Releases Annual ‘How They Voted’ Publication
on the Florida Chamber’s Business Agenda
TALLAHASSEE, FL (April 12, 2016) – The Florida Chamber of Commerce today released its annual publication How They Voted, and announced House Speaker Steve Crisafulli as the 2016 Most Valuable Legislator.
“While others talk about Florida’s long-term future, Speaker Crisafulli actively charges forward toward what is right for our state and knows firsthand the importance of fighting for free-enterprise principles,” said David Hart, Executive Vice President of the Florida Chamber of Commerce. “His dedication to seeing beyond short-sighted political platforms and his willingness to pass bipartisan efforts has made all the difference for our state.”
Speaker Crisafulli, who has previously earned the Florida Chamber’s Distinguished Advocate award and has consistently been ranked an “A” grade legislator, has been a leading legislative champion for securing Florida’s water future. Additionally, he championed House efforts to reform Florida’s archaic and unsustainable pension system, and continued to support Florida’s families and businesses by passing a $1 billion tax cut package in the House this session.
“The Florida Chamber has been an important ally in our efforts to secure Florida’s future during my two years as Speaker,” said House Speaker Steve Crisafulli. “I am honored to have had the opportunity to work closely with their members and staff in the push for a better business climate, regulatory reform and comprehensive water solutions. Fighting for our state’s long-term interest isn’t always popular or easy and it’s not a task that can be done alone. Thanks to the Florida Chamber’s commitment to the free enterprise principles that make our state the best state in the nation, I believe we moved Florida forward to a brighter future.”
Each year, the Florida Chamber honors one legislator as a Most Valuable Legislator, for their courage to champion business issues. Although in the 2015 regular and special sessions, no comparable champion emerged, we honor the previous 11 years of steadfast leaders who stood firm against special interest agendas and fought for Florida’s business community on the issues that will help secure Florida’s future. Those include:
- House Speaker Steve Crisafulli (2016)
- House Speaker Will Weatherford (2014)
- Representative Larry Metz (2013)
- House Speaker Dean Cannon (2012)
- Senator Ellyn Bogdanoff (2011)
- Senator John Thrasher (2010)
- Senator Garrett Richter (2009)
- Representative Dennis Ross (2008)
- Representative Stan Mayfield (2007)
- Representative Don Brown (2006)
- House Speaker Allan Bense (2005)
The Florida Chamber’s annual How They Voted identifies where legislators stood on the Florida Chamber’s 2016 business agenda. How They Voted provides the composite grades for all 160 legislators so business leaders and families can see who voted for or against job creation and economic opportunity in Florida, as well as what Florida Business Agenda issues did or didn’t pass during the 2016 legislative session.
Just two weeks ago, the Florida Chamber also released its Legislative Report Card, highlighting actual grades earned by each legislator and honoring 14 legislators who earned the Florida Chamber of Commerce’s Distinguished Advocate award for championing pro-jobs, pro-business legislation.
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The Florida Chamber of Commerce is the voice of business and the state’s largest federation of employers, chambers of commerce and associations, aggressively representing small and large businesses from every industry and every region. The Florida Chamber works within all branches of government to affect those changes set forth in the annual Florida Business Agenda, and which are seen as critical to secure Florida’s future. The Florida Chamber works closely with its Political Operations and the Florida Chamber Foundation. Visit www.FloridaChamber.com for more information.