CLUB FOR GROWTH ANNOUNCES FLORIDA DEFENDER OF ECONOMIC FREEDOM AWARDS

Joe Kildea  |   September 2, 2020

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Club for Growth today announced Defender of Economic Freedom awards for 3 Florida state legislators — 3 House Members and 0 State Senators — whose voting record distinguished them as champions of economic liberty for their high score on the Club for Growth Foundation’s 2020 Florida State Legislative Scorecard.

The Capitolist published an exclusive report on the announcement.

Elected officials who, on the Foundation’s scorecard, score 90% or better in a given calendar year and maintain lifetime scores of 90% or better are recognized by the Club for Growth as Defenders of Economic Freedom. Republican state house legislators Mike Hill (94%), Anthony Sabatini (94%), and Byron Donalds (90%) were all named Defenders of Economic Freedom.

“The Foundation’s Congressional Scorecard is already the gold-standard in publishing the voting records of Senators and Members of the U.S. House of Representatives on economic legislation, and the State Legislative Scorecards help educate citizens about which elected officials are champions of pro-growth policies at the state level,” said Club for Growth President David McIntosh. “The Foundation looked at a number of important free market votes in the Florida State Legislature on issues including taxes, subsidies, regulations, licensing, and tort reform.”

Key Takeaways on Florida’s 2020 Scorecard:

FLORIDA SENATE

Average Republican Score: 72%

Average Democrat Score: 45%

Highest-Rated Republican: State Sen. Wilton Simpson (SD-10) – 81%

Highest-Rated Democrat: State Sen. Oscar Braynon (SD-35) – 62%

Lowest-Rated Republican:  State Sen. Tom Lee (SD-20) – 59%

Lowest-Rated Democrat: State Sen. Annette Taddeo (SD-40) – 28% & State Sen. Bill Montford (SD-03) – 28%

 

FLORIDA HOUSE

Average Republican Score: 86%

Average Democrat Score: 40%

Highest-Rated Republican:  Reps. Mike Hill (HD-01) & Anthony Sabatini (HD-32) – 94%

Highest-Rated Democrat: Rep. Kimberly Daniels (HD-14) – 77%

Lowest-Rated Republican: Rep. Sam Killebrew (HD-41) – 76%

Lowest-Rated Democrat: Rep. Joy Goff-Marcil (HD-03) – 9%

The Club for Growth Foundation’s Florida legislative scorecard is similar to scorecards that the Foundation previously has released for Virginia, Missouri, New Mexico, Iowa, Tennessee, and Texas as part of its new state legislative vote study initiative. The Club for Growth Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization focused on educating the public about the value of free markets, pro-growth policies, and economic prosperity.