Jim Rosica
The head of the League of Women Voters of Florida said Monday that “a lack of transparency” still plagues the state’s Constitution Revision Commission.
In a letter to chairman Carlos Beruff and commissioners, LWVF President Pamela Goodman added concerns over “potential roadblocks to meaningful public engagement, potential for leverage and influence over commission members, and a less than robust respect for the Sunshine Rules.”
The commission, which convenes every 20 years to hold public hearings, then review and suggest changes to the state’s governing document, still has not adopted final rules since its March 20 organization meeting.
“None of us can have confidence in the work of the CRC without having rules and a schedule to guide the Commission’s work and to assure the public that this will be an effort worthy of respect,” she wrote.
The League and other groups held a rally last month denouncing the commission. The group said the panel’s draft rules fail to provide timely notice of meetings, schedules too few public hearings, and lacks safeguards to shield commissioners from undue influence.
Goodman also asks a series of questions related to ethics, public input and the “power of the Chair.” The letter, just over three pages, is here.
Updated 4 p.m. — CRC spokeswoman Meredith Beatrice writes:
“This is an open and transparent process. Over 900 Floridians have attended public hearings and nearly 300 individual Floridians have spoken before the CRC. Speakers have been heard on a first-come, first-serve basis, and we will continue to do so. All Floridians wishing to speak before the CRC have been given an opportunity to be heard.
“All meetings have been live-streamed and full transcripts will be made available online as soon as possible. The CRC plans to hold another round of public hearings to discuss proposed amendments and get public input. More information is available at FLCRC.GOV.”
