Open Government and the Sunshine

[Bob Wells]

Top adviser avoids creating public records as she shapes Gov. Rick Scott's policy, e-mails show - St. Petersburg Times

I suppose it bothers me that CERTAIN POLITICIANS here locally and at the State level feel they can violate the Sunshine law and get away with it. I believe there is a reason for the Sunshine Law and that is to keep things honest. I also believe there are reason and they are provided in the law to have meetings in the shade. Governor Scott and his staff appear to be violating the Sunshine Law. So much for accountability and openess. If all we are concerned about is results then when his term is over we might find ourselves back when unlimited donations to Parties and Politicians are acceptable, oops Leadership Funds, and the gifts given to politicians are OK, oops the gift ban being lifted in Florida. Watch out the term limits issue may come up here in the next couple of years. Oh for the days of Nixon, because I'm starting to feel like that is where we are heading.

 

[GoodWitch58]

It bothers me too; I wish it bothered the people who voted for this governor and that they would feel compelled to hold him accountable. Same for any local official who acts this way--citizens need to get involved and demand accountability and respect; otherwise, we are headed in the direction you indicate.
It is a sorry state of affairs IMO.

 

[30ashopper]

I think if it's state business related officials should be forced to use state email. If it's something else like campaign related email or personal issues I don't have a problem with them keeping it private. This Carter woman needs to be more open.

One thing this article proves to me - the media in this state are out to get Scott, and that to me implies a political bias.

 

[scooterbug44]

I don't think reporting when someone is doing something wrong means the media is out to get someone.

This woman is directly crafting policy for our state - and is deliberately subverting our laws in the process.

That isn't media bias, that's WRONG!

Any official communications need to be public record. I don't care what email address is used, when the Senator's office is talking to the Governor's office about our state's business, it is MY business!

 

[30ashopper]

I don't think reporting when someone is doing something wrong means the media is out to get someone.

This woman is directly crafting policy for our state - and is deliberately subverting our laws in the process.

That isn't media bias, that's WRONG!

Any official communications need to be public record. I don't care what email address is used, when the Senator's office is talking to the Governor's office about our state's business, it is MY business!

Read the whole article -

The First Amendment Foundation has acted as a liaison between the Governor's Office and some of Florida's newspapers to facilitate voluminous requests for public records.

The foundation has made more than 60 individual requests for records, the largest chunk of more than 560 requests Scott's office has received in its first four months.

Burgess and Petersen agreed it was unlikely any other governor received as many requests during that same time.

It's pretty clear to me the state media are on a witch hunt. Of course Scott doesn't have to worry about this assuming he's conducting business in an appropriate manner. (Hopefully all these document requests aren't wasting a lot of tax dollars!)

 

[scooterbug44]

I did read the whole article - including the part about how so many records requests have been made because they are trying to get information - and the governor's office will not answer questions.

Simple yes or no - Is she deliberately keeping information about what our government is doing from being available to the public?

 

[30ashopper]

The state is complying with the document requests, that's not at issue. The media were complaining that some personal emails supposedly weren't in the records. I imainge this is not a new thing it's probably been going on for a long time. The media is just making a stink of it because they don't like Scott.

 

[beachmouse]

My work e-mail falls under Sunshine Law requests, and I actually get a certain amusement from the idea of someone having to sort through the odd - "don't forget you've got an appointment to have the car looked at' and 'I'm going to be late getting home because I've got to buy cat food' e-mails in order to find what a requestor might be looking for.

 

[30ashopper]

Hardy har - Scott has started charging the witch hunters:

Rick Scott to charge for public records requests | jacksonville.com

 

[30ashopper]

I've been searching to see if any local florida paper did any research on the change in the number of document requests post Scott's election or on the costs associated with such requests. I've found zip. What I did find was a whole lot of editorial boards whining and complaining about the new policies. What a surprise!