Tallahassee Democrat: How did your Florida lawmaker score in the Democracy Scorecard by Common Cause?

Florida Republicans in Washington did not join a surge of support for election reform and open government in the halls of the U.S. Capitol this past year, according to Common Cause’s 2022 Democracy Scorecard. 

The 52-year-old nonpartisan watchdog group tracked votes on and co-sponsorships of 15 bills and three resolutions this past year governing campaign finance, ethics and transparency, and voting rights.

While lawmakers debated the legislation, a growing awareness among the public of the events leading up to the Jan. 6 insurrection took hold, states imposed new restrictions on voting, and women and minorities expressed fears over the loss of rights.

All of that, said Common Cause Florida spokeswoman Amy Keith, led to a 70% increase in the number of lawmakers scoring a perfect 100% – an increase  from last year of 43 members of Congress  to 101.

Congressman Charlie Crist, a Democratic gubernatorial candidate, was the only Floridian of the delegation to publicly support of all 18 proposals advocated by Common Cause.

Eight other Democrats posted scores of 88% –  supporting 16 out of 18 proposals including Congresswoman Val Demings, who is challenging Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Miami.

Rubio and fellow Republican Rick Scott, did not supporting any of the measures, and Rubio’s campaign celebrated his score of zero.

“Receiving a zero from a progressive dark money group funded by liberal billionaires is a badge of honor. In the Senate, Marco works toward common sense, conservative reforms while delivering results for the people of Florida–not for the blue state donors flooding Val Demings’ campaign with cash.”  said Rubio spokeswoman Elizabeth Gregory.

Fourteen Florida GOP House members voted with Common Cause once (0.5%) and two others twice (11%).

If enacted, the measures would limit the ability of big donors to influence campaigns, make it easier to register and to vote, and end congressional gerrymandering.

Congressman Al Lawson, D-Tallahassee is protesting his 88% score. He said he should have scored 100% and was being penalized for not being listed as a co-sponsor on two resolutions he has not yet had a chance to sign as a cosponsor.

Lawson is facing Congressman Neal Dunn, R-Panama City, in a reelection bid for the newly reddrawn Congressional District 2.

The two incumbents have represented parts of Tallahassee for the past six years but were drawn into the same district when the seat Lawson held was redesigned as a Jacksonville district.

Dunn is among the 14 Republicans who supported only one of the resolutions – a Courthouse Ethics and Transparency Act.

Dunn’s office did not respond to a request for a comment, but Lawson said the voting record highlights the difference in how the two view their job in Congress.

“The reason why there is such a disparity is because I put people above politics, and I think Congressman Dunn puts politics before people,” said Lawson.

Common Cause said it could find no public record of Lawson’s support for a Native American Voting Rights resolution or a Democracy for All amendment but will readjust the scorecard when the sponsors list Lawson as a cosponsor.

A spokesman said the group sent each lawmaker four letters over a six-month period seeking information for the scorecard.

“Officeholders are deciding on matters that present a choice between a fundamental belief in democracy or authoritarian rule; between you and me having power in our vote and voice, or others taking that way from us,” said Karen Hobert Flynn, president of Common Cause in a prepared statement with the Scorecard’s release.

See the full results at https://democracyscorecard.org.

How the Florida delegation scored

How often members of Florida Congressional Delegation voted Common Cause’s position on campaign finance, ethics, and voting initiatives. Broken down by district, representative and how they voted.

• CD1 – Matt Gaetz R-Fort Walton Beach – 1 of 18
• CD2 – Neal Dunn R-Panama City – 1/18
• CD3 – Kat Cammack R-Gainesville -1/18
• CD4 – John Rutherford R-Jacksonville – 1/18
• CD5 – Al Lawson D-Tallahassee – 16/18
• CD6 – Michael Waltz R-St. Augustine Beach – 1/18
• CD7 – Stephanie N. Murphy D-Orlando – 15/18
• CD8 – Bill Posey R-Rockledge – 1/18
• CD9 – Darren Soto D-Orlando – 16/18
• CD10 – Val Demings D-Orlando – 16/18
• CD11 – Daniel Webster R-Clermont – 1/18
• CD12 – Gus M. Bilirakis R-Palm Harbor – 1/18
• CD13 – Charlie Crist D-St. Petersburg – 18/18
• CD14 – Kathy Castor D-Tampa – 16/18
• CD15 – C. Scott Franklin R-Lakeland – 1/18
• CD16 – Vern Buchanan R-Sarasota – 1/18
• CD17 – W. Gregory Steube R-Sarasota – 1/18
• CD18 – Brian J. Mast R-Palm City – 0/18
• CD19 – Byron Donalds R-Naples – 1/18
• CD20 – seat vacant due to death of Rep. Alcee Hastings in 2021
• CD21 – Lois Frankel D-West Palm Beach – 16/18
• CD22 – Theodore E. Deutch D-Boca Raton – 16/18
• CD23 – Debbie Wasserman Schultz D-Weston – 16/18
• CD24 – Frederica S. Wilson D-Miami Gardens – 16/18
• CD25 – Mario Diaz-Balart R-Miami – 1/18
• CD26 – Carlos A. Gimenez R-Miami – 2/18
• CD27 – Maria Elvira Salazar R-Miami – 2/18