Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

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 […]

Peter SchorschJanuary 11, 2016

Florida Sunshine Laws, which dictate transparency in government, could be significantly threatened — all with the change of a single word. As reported by Noah Pransky of WTSP, a new bill by Sarasota Republican State Rep. Greg Steube is generating concern among open government advocates, who see it as “legislators trying to further erode citizens’ […]

Guest AuthorJanuary 4, 2016

Here’s a New Year’s resolution every public official should make: Don’t ever conduct a job candidate search and promise to keep applicants’ names confidential. The board members of the South Broward Hospital District have learned in the past few weeks that trying to circumvent Florida’s open government laws to keep applicants’ names secret is just […]

Tag: First Amendment Foundation

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

Bill changing single word of public records rules could have “disastrous” effect on Sunshine Laws

Fiasco at hospital district a lesson in benefits of open government