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Here’s how much money your elected officials got from the NRA

Roshan Nebhrajani, Alexandra Martinez, Erica Santiago, and Kassandra Meyer contributed to this piece. 

After Sunday’s shooting in Orlando, our elected officials took to Twitter and other public spots to convey their condolences, thoughts, and prayers.

One man, Igor Volsky, wasn’t having it. For every politician who expressed his or her sadness, he came back with hard facts like how they voted on gun laws and how much money they’ve received from anti-gun control groups. The National Rifle Association is the one we all know, but there are others, too.

What we heard from several of you Monday was a a desire to understand where their legislators stand — and who they’re standing for.

So we followed Volsky’s suit and gathered comments from Florida’s officials and held that up against their track record: the money they’ve received and the way they’ve voted. We also left a few notes in the margins, like who’s running in this next election cycle and how to contact your local officials.

A couple things to know: “Money received” is a tally of campaign contributions from their whole time as a candidate or elected official. Maybe that makes the totals from someone with a long history in office kind of staggering, especially when compared to a newcomer. But if someone’s been getting money from the NRA for the last decade, we think you should know that.

The NRA grade measures how much the NRA likes them. The Brady score is a rating from the Brady Campaign, one of the leading anti-gun violence organizations. Additional source information is at the end, as are explanations of those laws they voted on.  

Official Portrait

Marco Rubio

U.S. Senator

“Our prayers are with those injured and killed early this morning in horrifying act of terror in Orlando.” – @marcorubio
Voting Record:
Prohibits the Sale of Assault Weapons: No
Denying Firearms & Explosives to Dangerous Terrorists Act of 2015: No
Safe Communities, Safe Schools Act of 2013: No
Money received: $121,619 in all election cycles
2014 Brady Score: Thumbs down
2012 NRA Grade: B+

 

*Of Note: Considering running for Senate (Maybe, possibly, after denying for months he wouldn’t)
Contact
: Email or call: 202-224-3041. 

Official Portrait

Bill Nelson

U.S. Senator

“Needless to say that Orlando is shocked. We didn’t know that a place that sometimes is called the happiest place on Earth could be the saddest place on Earth.” – Bill Nelson
Voting Record:
Prohibits the Sale of Assault Weapons: Yes
Denying Firearms & Explosives to Dangerous Terrorists Act of 2015: Yes
Safe Communities, Safe Schools Act of 2013: Yes
Money received: $0 in all election cycles
2014 Brady Score: Thumbs up
2012 NRA Grade: F

 

Contact: Email or call: 305-536-5999.

Ileana Ros Lehtinen

Ileana Ros-Lehtinen

Congressional District: 27

“We are all #OrlandoUnited. The #LGBT community faces discrimination and hate. We should stand together as one.”@RosLehtinen
Voting record:
Prohibits District of Columbia from Implementing Certain Firearm Laws: Yes
Money received:$2,000 in all election cycles
2014 Brady Score: Thumbs down
2012 NRA Grade: A-

 

 

Contact: Email or call: Miami Office (305) 668- 2285; Washington DC Office (202) 225-3931.
Cities they represent: Coral Gables, Cutler Bay, Florida City, Homestead, Key Biscayne, Layton, Miami, Palmetto Bay, Pinecrest, South Miami

Debbie Wasserman Schultz

Debbie Wasserman Schultz

Congressional District: 23

“Heartbroken over another mass shooting. My thoughts are with the victims, their loved ones, and the entire Orlando LGBT community today.”@DWSTweets
Voting Record:
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives: No
Prohibits District of Columbia from Implementing Certain Firearm Laws: No
Money received: $0 in all election cycles
2014 Brady Score: Thumbs up
2012 NRA Grade: F

Editor’s note: This section has been updated. 

Contact: Email or Aventura Office (305) 936-5724; Pembroke Pines Office (954) 437-3936, Washington D.C.: 202-225- 7931
Cities they represent: Dania Beach, Cooper City, Fort Lauderdale, Hallandale Beach, Hollywood, Lauderhill, Lauderdale Lakes, Oakland Park, Pembroke Pines, Plantation, Sunrise, Tamarac, Weston, Wilton Manors, Aventura, Miami, Miami Beach, North Bay Village, North Miami, North Miami Beach, Sunrise Isles Beach.

Mario Diaz-BalartMario Diaz-Balart

Congressional District: 25

“Prayers to the victims of the #OrlandoShooting. May the victims and their families find peace after this senseless act of violence.”@MarioDB
Voting Record:
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives: Yes
Prohibits District of Columbia from Implementing Certain Firearm Laws: Yes
Money received: $28,450 in all election cycles
2014 Brady Score: Thumbs down
2012 NRA Grade: A

 

Contact: Email or call: Doral Office (305) 470-8555; Naples Office (239) 348-1620, Washington D.C.: (202) 225-4211.
Cities they represent: Doral, Everglades, Hialeah, Hialeah Gardens, LaBelle, Miramar, Pembroke Pines, Sweetwater.

Carlos CurbeloCarlos Curbelo

Congressional District: 26

“Today’s act of terror is especially painful as many Americans are celebrating #LGBTPrideMonth. We accompany them during this difficult time.”@carloscurbelo
Voting Record:
No key votes since coming into office
Money received: $15,650 in all election cycles
2014 Brady Score: Thumbs down
2012 NRA Grade: None

 

*Seeking re-election for his second term this year.  
Contact:
Email
 or call: Miami Office (305) 222-0160; Key West office (305) 292-4485; Florida City (305) 247-1234; Washington D.C: (202) 225-2778.
Cities they represent: Florida City, Homestead, Key Colony Beach, Key West, Layton, Marathon.

Frederica WilsonFrederica Wilson

Congressional District: 24

“I am shocked and saddened by the #PulseShooting. Praying for the victims and their families. #Orlando”@RepWilson
Voting Record:
Prohibits District of Columbia from Implementing Certain Firearm Laws: No
Money received: $0 in all election cycles
2014 Brady Score: Thumbs up
2012 NRA Grade: F

Editor’s note: This section has been updated.

 

Contact: Email or call: Miami Gardens (305) 690-5905; Washington D.C. (202) -225-4506.
Cities they represent: Miami, Miami Gardens, Miramar, North Miami, North Miami Beach, Opa-Locka, Pembroke Pines, West Park.

Adam Putnam

Adam Putnam

Florida Commissioner of Agriculture

“Our prayers are with victims and families in Orlando. Grateful for the brave law enforcement officers who responded.”@adamputnam
Voting Record:
Exempting Guns from an Estate for Bankruptcy Purposes 2010: Yes
Money received: $38,100 in all election cycles
2014 Brady Score: Not found
2010 NRA Grade: A+

 

 

*Of Note: Believed to be the GOP front runner to replace Gov. Rick Scott in 2018 . The Department of Agriculture handles gun licensing and other gun regulations.
Contact: Email or call: 863-537-7000.

Pamela Bondi

Pam Bondi

Attorney General

“Praying for the victims, their families and our country after this senseless act of violence in Orlando. #PrayForOrlando”@AGPamBondi
Voting Record: Backed NRA bid to overturn law that prohibits 18-to-20-year-olds from buying handguns and handgun ammunition from licensed firearms dealers.
Money received: $1,000 in all election cycles
2014 Brady Score: Not found
2010 NRA Grade: A

 

Contact: Email or call 850-414-3300

Photo Credit Meredyth Hope Hall

Rick Scott

State Governor

My prayers are with the victims’ families & all those affected by the shooting in Orlando. We will devote every resource available to assist.” – @FLGovScott
Money received:  Not found
2014 Brady Score: Not found
2014 NRA Grade: A+
Legislation passed: Authorizing Concealed Carry During Emergency Evacuations 2015
Prohibit Insurance Increases for Gun Owners 2014
“Threatened Use of Force Bill” – allows armed citizens to display/point defensive firearm at assailant without criminal charges, so long as use of force is justifiable
HB523- Allowing Florida’s tax collectors to fast track applications for state’s concealed carry licenses.
HB525- Extends public records exemption for concealed carry licensees to tax collectors
HB255 and SB424 – Prohibits insurance companies from refusing to issue or renew an insurance policy because the applicant owns firearms.

 

Contact: Call 850-488-7146

What those laws are all about

Prohibits the Sale of Assault Weapons: Prohibits the import, sale, manufacture and possession of assault weapons, like the AR-15 used by Omar Mateen

Denying Firearms and Explosives to Dangerous Terrorists Act of 2015: Authorizes the Attorney General to refuse to sell a gun to someone suspected of links to terrorism. 

Safe Communities, Safe Schools Act of 2013: A bill requiring a background checks for firearm sales

Prohibits District of Columbia from Implementing Certain Firearm Laws: Prohibits Washington, D.C.’s government from using funds from a related bill to enforce certain firearms statutes (maybe this seems odd to include, but we think how they vote on that reflects something about their opinion on guns).

HR5092 Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives: This allows the attorney general to revoke people’s gun licenses with notification and make initial decisions on applications for getting a gun license, among other changes. 

Sources:
Information for funding from gun rights organizations (National Rifle Association, Safari Club International, and the National Association for Gun Rights) came from OpenSecrets.org and Followthemoney.org

Voting records were sourced from VoteSmart.org

The Brady Campaign scorecard is here.

The National Rifle Association scorecard was animated in the New York Times here. We also sourced some information from this article and Vote Smart.