[CAPTURE PORTAL] 119TH CONGRESS

Legislative Integrity Monitor

Goblin House Intelligence

Vern Buchanan

Republican · Representative, FL ·16

Vern Buchanan is the Republican U.S. Representative (FL's 16th congressional district). The platform has 3 voting records on file (2017-2025) and 41 verified facts on file covering this member's voting positions, financial disclosures, and stated platform commitments.

Score Components

57 MODERATE

Connection Density 20%

0 → 0

Donor Influence 15%

77 → 12

Silence Risk 25%

95 → 24

Contradiction Risk 25%

69 → 17

Intelligence Volume 15%

42 → 6

Constituency Deviation 0%

41 → 0

Voting Misalignment 0%

0 → 0

% = weight in composite score · Raw component 0–100 × weight = weighted contribution (→) · Sum of contributions = overall score. Hover a row for details.

[constituency_baseline] Demographic anchor: Foreign-Born Population: 14.6% (121,000 residents)

secondary ✓ Verified

[constituency_baseline] Demographic anchor: Cook Partisan Voting Index: R+19 (2024)

secondary ✓ Verified

[constituency_baseline] Demographic anchor: Homeownership Rate: 73.8% (national avg. 65.5%); median home value $381,300

secondary ✓ Verified

[constituency_baseline] Demographic anchor: Racial/Ethnic Composition: 63.2% White (non-Hispanic), 21.7% Hispanic, 12.2% Black, 3% Asian/other

secondary ✓ Verified

[constituency_baseline] Demographic anchor: Uninsured Rate: 10.4% (approx. 86,000 residents without health coverage)

secondary ✓ Verified

[constituency_baseline] Demographic anchor: Poverty Rate: 6.7% (national avg. 12.4%)

secondary ✓ Verified

[constituency_baseline] Demographic anchor: Median Age: 43.1 (national median: 38.5); 16% of residents aged 70+

secondary ✓ Verified

[constituency_baseline] Demographic anchor: Population (2024 ACS): 830,753

secondary ✓ Verified

[constituency_baseline] Demographic anchor: Median Household Income: $84,737 (well above $78,538 national median)

secondary ✓ Verified

[constituency_baseline] Ballot measure: Florida Amendment 3 — Marijuana Legalization Initiative (2024) (2024) — failed, margin 55.8% Yes, 44.2% No (failed to reach 60% supermajority)

secondary ✓ Verified

[constituency_baseline] Ballot measure: Florida Amendment 4 — Right to Abortion Initiative (2024) (2024) — failed, margin 57% Yes, 43% No (failed to reach 60% supermajority required for constitutional amendments in Florida)

secondary ✓ Verified

[constituency_baseline] Dominant industry: NAICS 23 - Construction (share 0.08)

secondary ✓ Verified

[constituency_baseline] Dominant industry: NAICS 53 - Real Estate and Rental and Leasing (share 0.1)

secondary ✓ Verified

[constituency_baseline] Dominant industry: NAICS 72 - Accommodation and Food Services (share 0.11)

secondary ✓ Verified

[constituency_baseline] Dominant industry: NAICS 44-45 - Retail Trade (share 0.14)

secondary ✓ Verified

[constituency_baseline] Dominant industry: NAICS 62 - Health Care and Social Assistance (share 0.19)

secondary ✓ Verified

[constituency_baseline] Top employer: Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport / tourism sector (3000 employees)

secondary ✓ Verified

[constituency_baseline] Top employer: IMG Academy (Bradenton) (1500 employees)

secondary ✓ Verified

[constituency_baseline] Top employer: School District of Manatee County (6500 employees)

secondary ✓ Verified

[constituency_baseline] Top employer: Publix Super Markets (regional distribution and retail) (9362 employees)

secondary ✓ Verified

Mr. Southern Missourian In The House PAC donor $10,000 to Vern Buchanan's principal committee in the 2026 cycle (2 contributions), FEC Schedule A line 11C. https://www.fec.gov/data/committee/C00563726/

Trinet Group Inc PAC donor $5,000 to Vern Buchanan's principal committee in the 2026 cycle (1 contribution), FEC Schedule A line 11C. https://www.fec.gov/data/committee/C00495556/

Humane Society Legislative Fund PAC donor $5,000 to Vern Buchanan's principal committee in the 2026 cycle (1 contribution), FEC Schedule A line 11C. https://www.fec.gov/data/committee/C00466813/

The Mosaic Company PAC donor $5,000 to Vern Buchanan's principal committee in the 2026 cycle (1 contribution), FEC Schedule A line 11C. https://www.fec.gov/data/committee/C00455766/

American College Of Physician Services Inc PAC; Aka Acp Services PAC donor $5,000 to Vern Buchanan's principal committee in the 2026 cycle (1 contribution), FEC Schedule A line 11C. https://www.fec.gov/data/committee/C00403881/

Cvs Health PAC donor $5,000 to Vern Buchanan's principal committee in the 2026 cycle (2 contributions), FEC Schedule A line 11C. https://www.fec.gov/data/committee/C00384818/

American College Of Cardiology PAC (Heartpac) donor $5,000 to Vern Buchanan's principal committee in the 2026 cycle (1 contribution), FEC Schedule A line 11C. https://www.fec.gov/data/committee/C00375360/

Amer Soc Of Pension Professionals & Actu donor $5,000 to Vern Buchanan's principal committee in the 2026 cycle (1 contribution), FEC Schedule A line 11C. https://www.fec.gov/data/committee/C00333104/

Unitedhealth Group Incorporated PAC (Unitedhealth Group PAC) donor $10,000 to Vern Buchanan's principal committee in the 2026 cycle (2 contributions), FEC Schedule A line 11C. https://www.fec.gov/data/committee/C00274431/

Humana Inc. PAC donor $5,000 to Vern Buchanan's principal committee in the 2026 cycle (1 contribution), FEC Schedule A line 11C. https://www.fec.gov/data/committee/C00271007/

Koch Industries, Inc. PAC (Kochpac) donor $5,000 to Vern Buchanan's principal committee in the 2026 cycle (1 contribution), FEC Schedule A line 11C. https://www.fec.gov/data/committee/C00236489/

United States Sugar Corporation Employee Stock Ownership Pla donor $5,000 to Vern Buchanan's principal committee in the 2026 cycle (1 contribution), FEC Schedule A line 11C. https://www.fec.gov/data/committee/C00234120/

Ernst & Young PAC donor $5,000 to Vern Buchanan's principal committee in the 2026 cycle (1 contribution), FEC Schedule A line 11C. https://www.fec.gov/data/committee/C00227744/

National Structured Settlements Trade Association PAC donor $10,000 to Vern Buchanan's principal committee in the 2026 cycle (2 contributions), FEC Schedule A line 11C. https://www.fec.gov/data/committee/C00219444/

Deloitte Political Action Committee donor $5,000 to Vern Buchanan's principal committee in the 2026 cycle (2 contributions), FEC Schedule A line 11C. https://www.fec.gov/data/committee/C00211318/

King & Spalding Nonpartisan Committee For Good Government donor $5,000 to Vern Buchanan's principal committee in the 2026 cycle (1 contribution), FEC Schedule A line 11C. https://www.fec.gov/data/committee/C00204453/

Elevance Health, Inc. PAC (Elevance Health PAC) donor $5,000 to Vern Buchanan's principal committee in the 2026 cycle (2 contributions), FEC Schedule A line 11C. https://www.fec.gov/data/committee/C00197228/

Guidewell Mutual Holding Corp PAC donor $6,500 to Vern Buchanan's principal committee in the 2026 cycle (3 contributions), FEC Schedule A line 11C. https://www.fec.gov/data/committee/C00161141/

New York Life Insurance Company PAC donor $5,000 to Vern Buchanan's principal committee in the 2026 cycle (1 contribution), FEC Schedule A line 11C. https://www.fec.gov/data/committee/C00158881/

National Multifamily Housing Council PAC donor $5,000 to Vern Buchanan's principal committee in the 2026 cycle (1 contribution), FEC Schedule A line 11C. https://www.fec.gov/data/committee/C00130773/

Bill	Vote	Date	Alignment
PROOF Act	Not Voting	2026-09-16	unknown
Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United…	Not Voting	2026-09-16	unknown
Ratepayer Protection Act	Not Voting	2026-09-16	unknown
An Act to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow early childhood…	Yea	2026-09-16	unknown
Water Resources Development Act	Not Voting	2026-09-16	unknown
National Fraud Enforcement Division Act	Yea	2026-09-16	unknown
Retire through Ownership Act	Not Voting	2026-09-16	unknown
Diesel Emissions Reduction Act	Yea	2026-09-15	unknown
GUARD Act	Yea	2026-09-15	unknown
Tax Relief for Fraud Victims Act	Yea	2026-09-15	unknown
Directing the President, pursuant to section 5(c) of the War Powers…	Nay	2026-09-15	unknown
Impeaching Donald John Trump, President of the United States, for high crimes…	Yea	2026-09-15	unknown
Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United…	Yea	2026-09-15	unknown
Providing for consideration of the bills H.R. 9576 and H.R. 10326, providing…	Yea	2026-09-15	unknown
Fostering the Use of Technology to Uphold Regulatory Effectiveness in…	Yea	2026-09-15	unknown
Providing for consideration of the bills H.R. 9576 and H.R. 10326, providing…	Yea	2026-09-15	unknown
Whistleblower Protection Act	Yea	2026-09-15	unknown
National Wildlife Refuge System Invasive Species Strike Team Act	Not Voting	2026-09-14	unknown
Local Communities & Bird Habitat Stewardship Act	Not Voting	2026-09-14	unknown
Protect Economic and Academic Freedom Act	Yea	2026-09-03	unknown
Protecting Domestic Mining Act	Yea	2026-09-02	unknown
Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to require…	Yea	2026-09-02	unknown
Providing for consideration of the bills (H.R. 1501, H.R. 9436, and H.R…	Yea	2026-09-01	unknown
To amend the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 to extend the time period…	Yea	2026-09-01	unknown
To amend the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 to extend the time period…	Nay	2026-09-01	unknown
Providing for the condemnation and denouncement of socialism in all its forms…	Yea	2026-09-01	unknown
In the matter of allegations relating to Representative Chuck Edwards	Yea	2026-09-01	unknown
AGOA Extension Act	Yea	2026-09-01	unknown
Providing for consideration of the bills (H.R. 1501, H.R. 9436, and H.R…	Yea	2026-09-01	unknown
Local Access to Courts Act	Not Voting	2026-08-31	unknown

Last contradiction analysis: Never

statement_vs_disclosure 90/100

Platform: ""Biden's reckless, unilateral student loan giveaway is unfair to the 87 percent of Americans without student loan debt and those who played by the rules." — Vern Buchanan, tweet (August 2022) opposing President Biden's…

[ Show full platform position ]

"Biden's reckless, unilateral student loan giveaway is unfair to the 87 percent of Americans without student loan debt and those who played by the rules." — Vern Buchanan, tweet (August 2022) opposing President Biden's student loan forgiveness plan.

Vote: on "Buchanan's auto dealerships (Sarasota 500, Nissan of Elizabeth City) had over $2.3 million in…"

[ Show full analysis ]

Buchanan publicly attacked Biden's student loan forgiveness as 'reckless' and 'unfair to those who played by the rules,' yet his own businesses received over $2.3 million in forgiven PPP loans — a government loan forgiveness program that he did not criticize as 'reckless' or 'unfair.' President Biden personally mocked this contradiction at a public event saying 'Can't make this stuff up.' Both sources are independently verifiable from different news outlets (NBC News and Forbes).

statement_vs_disclosure 60/100

Platform: ""I would not have voted for the bill if I thought protections for those with pre-existing conditions were in jeopardy, as I promised my constituents during three town hall meetings." — Vern Buchanan, May 4, 2017…

[ Show full platform position ]

"I would not have voted for the bill if I thought protections for those with pre-existing conditions were in jeopardy, as I promised my constituents during three town hall meetings." — Vern Buchanan, May 4, 2017, defending his Yea vote on the American Health Care Act (AHCA) to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act.

Vote: on "The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimated the AHCA would cause 23 million more Americans to…"

[ Show full analysis ]

Buchanan publicly assured constituents he 'would not have voted for the bill' if pre-existing condition protections were in jeopardy, but the CBO and multiple independent analyses determined the AHCA would weaken those protections by allowing state waivers from community rating requirements. Buchanan's framing of the bill's impact contradicted the consensus of nonpartisan analysts. Both quotes come from independent sources with differing hostnames (saintpetersblog.com and bradenton.com).

Last silence detection: Thu, 15 Oct 2026 00:45:57 GMT (via scheduled run)

Auto dealership and reinsurance company conflicts of interest given Ways and Means tax jurisdiction

3313d silent

[ Show full donor-interest summary ]

Expected position: As a member of Ways & Means overseeing tax policy while simultaneously owning auto dealerships, offshore reinsurance companies (Buchanan Reinsurance, Jamat Reinsurance, Greater Atlantic Insurance), and a charter-jet business, Buchanan would be expected to proactively address how he manages conflicts — particularly since the TCJA's pass-through deduction directly benefits car dealerships structured as S-corporations or LLCs. Evidence of activity on adjacent topics: Buchanan has been active on tax policy for a decade — chairing the Tax Policy Subcommittee, co-authoring TCJA provisions, and introducing the TCJA Permanency Act (2022). He disclosed his assets in mandatory financial filings and his official bio acknowledges his auto dealership background. However, he has never, across any public forum, town hall, op-ed, or press release, addressed in detail how his personal financial interests in auto dealerships and reinsurance (both heavily affected by Ways and Means tax jurisdiction) relate to his legislative work. The House Ethics Committee warned him in 2016 to 'exercise more diligence over affairs related to his campaign' after finding his car dealerships illegally reimbursed employees for campaign donations, but he was not required to divest or recuse from tax matters. Primary URL: https://thehill.com/business-a-lobbying/284834-ethics-panel-closes-investigation-of-rep-buchanan/

In-person constituent town halls during contentious FY2025 budget reconciliation debate (2025)

195d silent

[ Show full donor-interest summary ]

Expected position: As the representative for 830,753 constituents and vice chair of Ways & Means, Buchanan would be expected to hold public town halls to explain his positions on tax cuts, Medicaid, SNAP, and Social Security — all under his committee's jurisdiction and of direct impact to FL-16's large senior and working-class populations. Evidence of activity on adjacent topics: Buchanan was highly active during this period — issuing press releases, guest columns (including a May 2025 Herald-Tribune op-ed defending Trump tax cuts), voting on H.R. 1 (July 3, 2025), and sending constituent email surveys on the 'Big B Bill.' Yet constituents publicly complained of no accessible town halls: a MoveOn.org petition circulated in March 2025 urging him to 'schedule in-person town halls,' and a May 15, 2025 Herald-Tribune letter drily lampooned 'Constituents await Vern's karaoke town hall,' sarcastically calling for him to sing rather than meet voters. The Bradenton Times also noted Buchanan sent a survey that showed majority district opposition to the bill — yet he voted Yea anyway. Primary URL: https://www.heraldtribune.com/story/opinion/letters/2025/05/15/downtown-sarasota-condo-tower-opposition/83631224007/

other candidates' committees

Huck PAC (amounts: $5,000 (2024)) — interest area: other candidates' committees

other / unclassified

[ Show full donor-interest summary ]

National Association For Behavioral Healthcare Champions PAC, American Rental Association PAC, King & Spalding Nonpartisan Committee For Good Government, Federation Of Exchange Accomodators 1031 PAC, Alzheimer'S Impact Movement PAC, Aksm Urology PAC, Society For Cardiovascular Angiography And Interventions (Scai) PAC (amounts: $5,000 (2024), $5,500 (2024), $5,000 (2026), $5,000 (2026), $5,000 (2024), $5,000 (2024), $5,000 (2024)) — interest area: other / unclassified

colleagues' leadership pacs

[ Show full donor-interest summary ]

Working For Ohio, Foundations Based On Integrity PAC, Creating A Majority Party Action Committee (C.A.M.P.A.C.), Gridiron-PAC, Eye Of The Tiger PAC, Bringing Republican Excellence To Town PAC (Brettpac), Mr. Southern Missourian In The House PAC (amounts: $5,000 (2024), $5,000 (2024), $5,000 (2024), $5,000 (2026), $5,000 (2024), $5,000 (2024), $10,000 (2026)) — interest area: colleagues' leadership pacs

ideological & single-issue

The Premier Employee'S Civic Action Fund, Humane Society Legislative Fund PAC (amounts: $5,000 (2026), $5,000 (2026)) — interest area: ideological & single-issue

corporate pacs, industry unlisted

The Mosaic Company PAC, Villagemd PAC, American Homes 4 Rent Trs, LLC, Moss & Associates LLC Political Action Committee (Moss Federal PAC), Teamhealth Holding Inc PAC, Saltchuk Resources Inc. PAC (amounts: $5,000 (2026), $5,000 (2026), $5,000 (2026), $5,000…

[ Show full donor-interest summary ]

party & leadership pacs

Creating A Majority Party Action Committee (C.A.M.P.A.C.), Gridiron-PAC, Eye Of The Tiger PAC, Bringing Republican Excellence To Town PAC (Brettpac), Mr. Southern Missourian In The House PAC (amounts: $5,000 (2024), $5,000 (2026), $5,000 (2024), $5,000…

[ Show full donor-interest summary ]

Wine And Spirits Wholesalers Of America, Inc. PAC Alcohol & tobacco $5,000 (2026)

National Beer Wholesalers Association PAC (Nbwa PAC) Alcohol & tobacco $10,000 (2024)

Mr. Southern Missourian In The House PAC Colleagues' leadership PACs $10,000 (2026)

Bringing Republican Excellence To Town PAC (Brettpac) Colleagues' leadership PACs $5,000 (2024)

Eye Of The Tiger PAC Colleagues' leadership PACs $5,000 (2024)

Gridiron-PAC Colleagues' leadership PACs $5,000 (2026)

Creating A Majority Party Action Committee (C.A.M.P.A.C.) Colleagues' leadership PACs $5,000 (2024)

Teamhealth Holding Inc PAC Corporate PACs, industry unlisted $5,000 (2026)

Moss & Associates LLC Political Action Committee (Moss Federal PAC) Corporate PACs, industry unlisted $5,000 (2026)

Norwegian Cruise Co. Inc PAC Transportation & auto $5,000 (2026)

Royal Caribbean Group USA Inc. PAC Transportation & auto $5,000 (2026)

Foundations Based On Integrity PAC Colleagues' leadership PACs $5,000 (2024)

American Homes 4 Rent Trs, LLC Corporate PACs, industry unlisted $5,000 (2026)

American Israel Public Affairs Committee PAC Law & lobbying firms $10,000 (2024)

Working For Ohio Colleagues' leadership PACs $5,000 (2024)

Topic	Priority	Alignment	Deviation
Housing Affordability and Property Insurance	84	10	55
Environmental Protection and Water Resources	66	-10	48
Social Security and Medicare Preservation	88	15	45
Healthcare Access and Affordability	78	20	42
Florida Amendment 3 — Marijuana Legalization	62	-40	38
Foreign Policy and Military Oversight	63	30	35
Economy and Inflation / Cost of Living	90	40	30
Federal Spending and Debt Reduction	76	55	22
Immigration and Border Security	74	65	18
Energy Independence and Domestic Production	71	70	15
Education and Early Childhood Tax Relief	68	60	15
Government Fraud, Waste, and Accountability	80	72	12

No platform commitments archived

No committee memberships recorded

Scoring Methodology

The Capture Risk Score is a composite 0–100 index measuring potential regulatory capture of elected officials. It is computed from seven weighted components:

Component	Weight	Signal
Contradiction Risk	30%	Stated positions contradicted by the record (recent findings boosted)
Donor Influence	20%	Distinct documented donors (FEC Schedule A PACs); inferred donors do not count
Connection Density	20%	Mapped relationships to lobbyists, contractors, interest groups; donor links excluded
Silence Risk	15%	Topics where donors have interests but the official is silent
Intelligence Volume	15%	Documented facts from verified sources
Constituency Deviation	0%	Shown, not weighted — a model estimate, not a record
Voting Misalignment	0%	Shown, not weighted — needs platform commitments almost nobody has; the roll-call record on /votes is the vote signal

Each component is the member's standing among all scored members of Congress, and the weighted sum is the overall score. Tiers are ranks: Critical is the top 5%, High the next 10%, Elevated the next 20%, Moderate the next 30%, and Low the rest.

Officials without at least 2 documented facts, 1 contradiction analysis, 1 voting record, or 1 constituency baseline are marked Insufficient Evidence and excluded from numeric ranking.

Contradiction findings from the last 180 days receive a recency boost. High-severity contradictions (score ≥ 70) receive additional weight.

Full methodology: /congress/methodology

[PUBLIC COST ESTIMATE]

Documented financial relationships span 0 money flow chains.

$9.0BDonor Contributions

0Money Chains

0Traced Hops

Calculation Methodology

Contract values are summed from documented money flow chains where this entity appears as a source or destination node. Amounts are drawn from USASpending.gov, FEC filings, SEC EDGAR, or LD-2 lobbying registrations.

Donor contributions aggregate documented amounts from the donor_interests table, sourced from FEC individual and PAC contribution filings.

Connected officials are elected officials in our database with a mapped relationship (lobbying, board membership, campaign contribution, etc.) to this entity.

Annualised flow represents the total documented dollar amount traced through money flow hops involving this entity. Where hop-level amounts are unavailable, the chain-level documented total is used as a conservative upper bound.

All figures are drawn from public filings. Estimates are conservative — undisclosed transactions, dark money, and vanish-point hops are excluded from totals. This is a minimum documented floor, not a ceiling.

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