Florida Chamber issues ‘report cards’ on your legislators

Published July 6th, 2008

By Dale M. King
CITY EDITOR

The Florida Chamber of Commerce has issued its annual report card on legislators for 2008.

And other than State Rep. Kelly Skidmore, D-Boca Raton, whose score rose from 76 to 85, most others from the Boca-Delray area either lost points or stayed the same.

Chamber official David Daniel said the scores are based on legislators’ responses to issues raised by members and no necessarily voting records.

Also, while some may have lost points, they could still be cited by the Chamber for endorsing or sponsoring an issue of particular importance to the organization.

Neither of the two state senators serving South County did well.  Sen. Jeff Atwater, R-North Palm Beach, saw his 2007 grade of 95 slip to 81.  Daniel thought it might be due to his efforts to help residents get money owed to them by insurance companies for hurricane damage.

But Sen. Ted Deutch, D-Boca Raton, also slipped from a ranking of 87 to 69.

One legislator cited as a “Distinguished Advocate” even though his scored dropped from 90 to 74 was Sen. Mike Fasano of New Port Richey.   He won his advocacy honor for sponsoring a bill to make it easier for taxpayers who prove they are paying too much for property taxes to lower their bill.

Among area members of the House, Ellyn Bogdanoff, R-Fort Lauderdale, dropped from 100 to 97; Adam Hasner, R-Delray Beach, fell from 100 to 97; Richard Machek, D-Delray Beach, lost four points, from 89 to 85 and Maria Sachs, D-Delray Beach, remained the same at 81.