For Immediate Release
Tuesday, June 28, 2022
Contact: Sarah Bascom / Kelsi Snow
Tallahassee, Fla. – The Associated Industries of Florida (AIF) today 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 & 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.”
AIF’s VP of Governmental Affairs Adam Basford added, “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.”
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:
Known as “The Voice of Florida Business” in the Sunshine State, AIF has represented the principles of prosperity and free enterprise before the three branches of state government since 1920. A voluntary association of diversified businesses, AIF was created to foster an economic climate in Florida conducive to the growth, development, and welfare of industry and business and the people of the state. For more information on AIF, please visit AIF.com and follow @VoiceofFLBiz.
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