Top Republicans dominate rankings, but a pair of higher-scoring Democrats and lower-performing GOP lawmakers shake up expectations
The Club for Growth Foundation’s 2024 Florida Economic Scorecard has revealed a sharp partisan divide in the state legislature’s approach to pro-growth policies, with a few notable outliers. Among Republicans, State Senator Clay Yarborough (R-SD04) and State Representative Jenna Persons-Mulicka (R-HD78) earned plaudits from the Foundation. Those two led the pack with scores of 93% and 94%, respectively, showcasing strong alignment with Club for Growth priorities of tax cuts, deregulation, and school choice.
On the Democratic side, Sen. Darryl Rouson (D-SD16) was the party’s top Senate performer with a 42% score, while in the House, State Representative Johanna Lopez (D-HD43) notched an impressive – at least for Democrats – 46% score. Both Rouson and Lopez were outliers among their colleagues but still trailing well behind even the lowest-scoring Republicans, including Sen. Joe Gruters (R-SD22) and Sen. Ileana Garcia (R-SD36), who both tied at 62%.
At the other end of the spectrum, the lowest-scoring Republican overall, State Representative Mike Beltran (R-HD70), notched a meager 60%, while the Democrats’ bottom performers, Sen. Shevrin Jones (D-SD34) and Rep. Dotie Joseph (D-HD108), scored 17% and 11%, respectively. These figures underscore the ongoing ideological divide in Florida’s legislature, with Democrats consistently scoring lower than Republicans on policies that Club for Growth Foundation deems crucial for economic freedom.
“Through these scorecards, the Club for Growth Foundation offers Floridians a transparent look at how state policies impact economic opportunity and growth,” said Club for Growth Foundation President David McIntosh. “In 2024, while we saw positive initiatives from some lawmakers, there is still work to be done to foster an economic environment that benefits all Floridians. Both chambers of the Florida Legislature must continue to promote legislation that safeguards and promotes individual liberties and economic freedom for its citizens.”
The scorecard evaluates lawmakers on a scale from 0 to 100, with Senate Republicans averaging 81% and House Republicans 85%. Democrats averaged 34% in the Senate and 23% in the House. The Foundation reviewed over 800 votes, focusing on significant bills such as:
- School Choice Expansion (HB 1403): This legislation broadened the Family Empowerment Scholarship, adding 71,000 scholarships for students with disabilities. It passed 40-0 in the Senate and 89-18 in the House.
- Fiscally Responsible Budget (HB 5001): The $117 billion budget included tax cuts, toll fee reductions, and $500 million in state debt reduction. It passed with strong bipartisan support, 105-3 in the House and 39-0 in the Senate.
- Youth Employment Deregulation (HB 49): Allowing minors to work additional hours, this bill passed 76-33 in the House and 27-11 in the Senate.
- Protectionist Steel Mandate (SB 674): A rare bill opposed by the Foundation, this measure requires public works projects to use domestically sourced steel, which the group claims could raise project costs by up to 20%. Despite the criticism, it passed with overwhelming support in both chambers.
The Foundation emphasized that its scoring reflects votes on select economic issues central to its mission and does not constitute endorsements or oppositions to specific lawmakers. The group promotes the scorecard as a resource for voters and businesses to evaluate how state legislators’ decisions impact Florida’s economic landscape. Click this link to view the full report and methodology.