Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Peter SchorschAugust 1, 2016

Mike Fasano took to social media last week to “shame” GOP political consulting firm Data Targeting for having the audacity to request public personnel records. In doing so, the Pasco County Tax Collector — recognized with the Friend of the First Amendment award only last year — disappointed a number of people, including several of his friends. But in the […]

Peter SchorschJuly 28, 2016

What a difference four years can make. Especially in the world of politics. Elected officials change their positions. Sometimes it can happen when new facts emerge, or because of a desire to follow the will of the people who elected them to serve. And then there are the other scenarios. Take my friend Pasco County […]

Jim RosicaJuly 22, 2016

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The times, they are a-changin’ at the Florida Press Center. Since 1988, the tan three-story building in downtown Tallahassee has been the home-away-from-home for many of the state’s newspapers, wire services and television and radio stations. (It replaced another building torn down to make way for what is now downtown’s Kleman Plaza.) But the Florida Press Association […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterJuly 4, 2016

Whether it’s at the ballpark or the beach, setting off fireworks or firing up the grill, Floridians will celebrate the July 4 holiday in style. The National Retail Federation predicts Americans will spend $71.34 per household on average on food for barbecues. The organization — which has been conducting its annual Independence Day survey since 2003 […]

Jim RosicaJune 20, 2016

Update: Later Monday, the Justice Department released a full text of one of the shooter’s calls, saying it wanted to “provide the highest level of transparency possible under the circumstances.” Click here for the statement and transcript. Gov. Rick Scott Monday called on federal authorities to release more from the 911 calls made by the Orlando shooter. […]

Gary FineoutMay 13, 2016

The Seminole Tribe of Florida, owner of Florida’s largest casinos, is trying to get a federal judge to block the publication of information related to a trial that could upend their businesses and to seal a key deposition until it can be redacted. Tribal attorneys this week filed an emergency motion seeking to seal a […]

Associated PressApril 14, 2016

Florida government agencies that lose lawsuits filed by people seeking access to public records will have to pay plaintiffs’ attorney fees, the state Supreme Court ruled Thursday in a Jacksonville-based case. And it doesn’t matter if the agency didn’t know it was breaking Florida’s public records laws when it denied or limited access to records, […]

Diane RobertsFebruary 10, 2016

OCCUPIED TALLAHASSEE — They call us the Sunshine State, but Florida’s government prefers to operate in the shadows. Like vampire bats, cockroaches and mold spores. If you can’t see what the government is doing, you can’t fight it. That explains the 74 public records exemption bills before the Legislature this Session. Yes, 74 new attacks […]

Diane RobertsFebruary 9, 2016

OCCUPIED TALLAHASSEE — They call us the Sunshine State, but Florida’s government prefers to operate in the shadows. Like vampire bats, cockroaches and mold spores. If you can’t see what the government is doing, you can’t fight it. That explains the 74 public records exemption bills before the Legislature this session. Yes, 74 new attacks […]

Jim RosicaJanuary 20, 2016

Despite the Florida House of Representatives’ frequent complaint of judicial overreach, a House panel Wednesday OK’d a measure that would put more power in the hands of judges as it possibly weakens the state’s public record law. The Government Operations Subcommittee by a 12-0 vote approved the bill (HB 1021) that gives judges discretion whether to award attorney […]

Tag: First Amendment Foundation

First Amendment Foundation calls Mike Fasano’s conditions on public record access ‘highly inappropriate,’ illegal

Mike Fasano, it’s none of your business who requests public records

Tallahassee’s Press Center loses Hall of Fame photos to Poynter Institute

Independence Day brought to you by these lobbyists and political associations

Rick Scott to feds: Release the Orlando 911 tapes

Seminole Tribe trying to stop publication of financial info

Florida Supreme Court: Board must pay in public records case

Diane Roberts: Legislature works hard to keep us in the dark

Diane Roberts: Legislature is working hard to keep citizens in the dark

House panel clears what critics call “weakening” of open government