TALLAHASSEE, FL – The Florida Chamber of Commerce has selected Senator Garrett Richter as the Most Valuable Legislator for the 2009 Legislative Session. The award is given each year to the legislator who championed pro-business issues and uses his or her leadership in the Legislature to strengthen Florida's economy and business climate and to create quality jobs for Floridians.

According to the Florida Chamber of Commerce, "Senator Garrett Richter earned the 2009 Most Valuable Legislator award for his leadership on several critical pro-business bills, including cost benefits analysis of legislation, property insurance reforms, the Save Our Secret Ballot initiative and workers' compensation attorney's fee glitch."

"[Senator Richter] saw the importance of lowering workers' compensation insurance costs for Florida businesses during a critical year when employers cannot be burdened with additional expenses, despite the aggressive lobbying effort of the plaintiffs' trial attorneys," said the Florida Chamber of Commerce.