Congressional Voting Record

Gus Bilirakis: Who Benefits from His Votes?

October 10, 2026 B. John 134 Views 0 Comments Pasco County, Campaign Finance, Congressional Voting Record, Gus Bilirakis, Florida Congressional District 12, Medicaid Cuts, Hillsborough County, Political Action Committees

This entry is in the series 2026 Elections

After nearly 20 years in Congress, Gus Bilirakis has had plenty of opportunities to demonstrate whose interests he represents. Now, with Florida’s newly drawn Congressional District 12 stretching across parts of Hillsborough and Pasco counties, it’s worth looking at his record. For residents worried about health care, household expenses, and the rising cost of living, some of his votes raise uncomfortable questions.

Bilirakis supported legislation that the Congressional Budget Office projects will leave millions more Americans uninsured and reduce federal food assistance. He opposed bipartisan infrastructure funding and pandemic relief that provided direct help to families and communities. Apparently, there’s plenty of room in Washington to cut taxes, but far less enthusiasm for helping people pay their medical bills.

Then there’s the campaign money. Nearly 56% of Bilirakis’s direct campaign contributions come from political committees, including PACs associated with pharmaceutical manufacturers, health insurers, utilities, and telecommunications companies. Many of those industries have business before the congressional committee on which he serves. Campaign contributions don’t prove influence, of course. But after two decades in Washington, voters have every reason to ask a simple question: Who is Gus Bilirakis working for?

Infographic of Rep. Castor votes for disaster funding

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Kathy Castor Voted Against Hurricane Relief 11 Times? There’s Much More to That Story.

October 8, 2026 B. John 202 Views 0 Comments FEMA, Hurricane Relief, Kathy Castor, Congressional Voting Record, West Orlando News, NRCC, Disaster Funding, Tampa Bay

This entry is in the series 2026 Elections

Kathy Castor voted against hurricane relief 11 times, supposedly blocking $151.43 billion in federal disaster assistance. That’s the accusation circulating in an article from West Orlando News, courtesy of the National Republican Congressional Committee. Eleven votes. More than $151 billion. You can almost hear the ominous music playing behind the next Republican campaign commercial.

There’s just one problem. When you examine the actual congressional records, the story begins to fall apart. The article counts votes against massive spending bills covering everything from FEMA to immigration enforcement, along with a procedural vote that had little to do with disaster relief itself. Apparently, voting against a bill containing dozens of provisions means you oppose every dollar in it. Congressional voting records are wonderfully useful things, particularly when you select only the votes that support your accusation.

Here’s what the article conveniently forgot to mention. Castor voted FOR $6.4 billion in FEMA disaster funding in 2011, FOR $15.25 billion in emergency disaster assistance in 2017, and FOR legislation providing $29 billion to FEMA following Hurricanes Helene and Milton in 2024. That last bill passed 366–34. Every single vote against it came from a Republican. Funny how that little detail escaped the article’s attention.

The NRCC is entitled to campaign against Kathy Castor. Voters are entitled to know what Congress actually did. We’ve examined the votes, the bills, and the facts the original article left out. Before accepting the claim that Castor repeatedly voted against hurricane relief, read the full article. The congressional record tells a much different story, and the facts are considerably less flattering to the people spreading this accusation.