Letter to the Editor / Anna Marie Rodriguez and Jim Mooney Get Fs on Legislative Performance

By Philip Dodderidge
Vice-Chair Florida Keys Democrats

The 2021 “People First” Report Card graded Florida lawmakers on the most prominent floor votes cast during the 2021 legislative session. The grades took into account votes for issues including affordable housing, health care, public schools, voting rights, reproductive freedom, and clean energy and water.

Both of our Representatives, Jim Mooney and Anna Marie Rodriguez, received a grade of “F.”

Time after time, our state legislative representatives, voted for Special Interests ahead of putting Monroe County citizens first. The full report for both Jim Mooney and Anna Marie Rodrigue can be found online at www.FloridaReportCard.com.

Both of their voting records tell the story of their disregard for Floridians and their disdain for local governments, highlighted here.

Both voted for:

  • legislation that pre-empts local authority during an emergency such as a hurricane or pandemic restricting the ability of local governments to enact emergency policies to protect residents and gives the governor sweeping powers to invalidate local emergency measures.
  • legislation that eliminates municipalities’ ability to move toward clean energy in residential and commercial building codes.
  • legislation that further restricts local governments’ ability to pass measures to address gun violence.
  • legislation that makes it nearly impossible for local governments to require developers to pay their fair share (impact fees) for new infrastructure including roads, first responders, sewer lines and schools.
  • legislation that reduces the ability of local governments to enforce their comprehensive plans and land development rules and will undermine protection for conservation lands and waterways.

“Too often in Florida, legislators bow to the wishes of large corporations and special interests instead of doing what’s best for everyday people,” stated Florida Watch Executive Director Josh Weierbach. “We encourage all Floridians to use the ‘People First’ Report Card as a resource to find out who in Tallahassee truly has their backs.”

Voters need to remember how our state representatives voted on critical issues on November 8, 2022.

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