WASHINGTON — The National Journal today released its annual report (available here) that attempts to rank federal lawmakers along the ideological spectrum, based on their 2009 votes.
Florida, as a whole, was classified as a centrist state between liberal and conservative with a few members pushing their way toward one end or the other. Democratic U.S. Reps. Kathy Castor of Tampa and Alcee Hastings of Miramar ranked in the top 25 most liberal House members; Republican U.S. Rep. Jeff Miller of Chumuckla was among the top 25 most conservative lawmakers, according to the Journal.
Meanwhile, U.S. Rep. Suzanne Kosmas, D-New Smyrna Beach, crowed about the fact that she was named one of the most “centrist” lawmakers in Congress.
“Decisions in Washington are too often motivated by ideology, but I made a commitment to be an independent voice, focused on the people and priorities of our communities, and I work hard to live up to that commitment every day,” said Kosmas in a statement.
Below, here’s a ranking Florida House lawmakers based on the report’s liberal scale (with most liberal being first).
1. Kathy Castor (9th)
2. Alcee Hastings (15th)
3. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (43rd)
4. Robert Wexler (85th)
5. Corrine Brown (86th)
6. Alan Grayson (170th)
7. Kendrick Meek (176th)
8. Ron Klein (184th)
9. Allen Boyd (207th)
10. Suzanne Kosmas (216th)
11. Ginny Brown-Waite (280th)
12. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (281st)
13. Ander Crenshaw (288th)
14. Mario Diaz-Balart (290th)
15. Lincoln Diaz-Balart (292nd)
16. Vern Buchanan (297th)
17. Bill Young (303rd)
18. Adam Putnam (306th)
19. Tom Rooney (316th)
20. Gus Bilirakis (316th)
21. Cliff Stearns (324th)
22. Bill Posey (368th)
23. John Mica (370th)
24. Connie Mack (375th)
25. Jeff Miller (418th)
