Declaring that Florida's open government laws have been "under attack in recent years," the First Amendment Foundation asked the two candidates for governor to answer three questions pledging to reverse recent trends and operate with more transparent practices if they are elected.
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When it comes to transparency, Florida Governor Rick Scott hasn't always been crystal clear. So says President of the First Amendment Foundation, Barbara Petersen. She says some of that stems from the governor's long history working in the private sector.
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Read More… from Some Call FL Governor’s Transparency Efforts Cloudy
Who are you going to call? A county commissioner refuses to let you speak at a public meeting. Who are you going to call?
A local sheriff refuses to give you access to public records. Who are you going to call?
The city is willing to give you the public records you requested, but it wants to charge you an exorbitant amount of money for the privilege. Who are you going to call?
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Read More… from Opinion: Little agency a strong defender of open government
Read more here: http://miamiherald.typepad.com/nakedpolitics/2014/05/day-three-of-redistricting-window-into-reality-and-the-defense-of-secret-deals-as-entirely-proper.html#storylink=cpy
Senate President Don Gaetz testified under oath Wednesday that it was “entirely proper” for him to meet in secret with House Speaker Will Weatherford to reach a deal over a congressional map as part of the Legislature’s once-a-decade redistricting process.
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From Florida First Amendment Foundation: In this issue —
Petersen appointed to user experience task force
State Senate President Don Gaetz (R-Niceville) recently appointed FAF President Barbara Petersen to a special legislative panel assigned to improve online access to financial records and contracts. The User Experience Task Force will evaluate ways to make data more accessible to the public by consolidating existing state operational and fiscal information websites into a single website . . .
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From The Florida Senate: Senate President Don Gaetz (R-Niceville) today announced the appointment of Barbara A. Petersen, President of Florida’s First Amendment Foundation, to a legislative panel that will evaluate and recommend how to provide better public access to state financial records and contracts.
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Read More… from First Amendment expert named to Florida legislative panel on transparency
From The Ledger.com:
The 2013 Florida Legislature officially closed out last week when Gov. Rick Scott finished acting on the last bills to reach his desk.
One of the winners of the session was Florida's open-government tradition. Scott and legislative leaders can take a good share of the credit for that.
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From Historic City News:
Historic City News has been following Bills moving through the Legislature that would create new public records exemptions for things like voter email addresses, property insurance underwriting policies, and the data that determines 50 percent of teacher evaluations.
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Read More… from Public records exemptions discourage First Amendment Foundation
A few state FOIA and local open government news items selected from many of interest that we might or might not have drawn attention to earlier in the week:
Florida appellate court: Student complaints are public record
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From North Carolina Open Government Coalition:
Please join the North Carolina Open Government Coalition (NCOGC) for Sunshine Day from noon to 4 p.m. Wednesday, March 14 at Elon University.
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