Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Guest AuthorJanuary 3, 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 last few weeks that trying to circumvent Florida’s open government laws to keep applicants’ names secret is just […]

Jim RosicaOctober 29, 2015

A Tampa lawmaker has filed a bill that would shield the identities of “witness(es) to a felony” from being released to the public. State Rep. Ed Narain, a first-term Democrat, submitted his bill (HB 475) on Thursday. The legislation creates an exemption from Florida public records law of witnesses’ “personal identifying information,” prohibiting its disclosure, including to […]

Jim RosicaSeptember 30, 2015

A Pasco County senator on Wednesday filed legislation to protect businesses that do work for government agencies from being harassed with lawsuits over public records violations. Sen. Wilton Simpson, a Trilby Republican, explained in a statement that “scammers use Florida’s open government and sunshine laws to target and intimidate job creators for unjust financial gain.” “Many Florida business owners contract […]

Mitch PerryMarch 30, 2015

Clearwater GOP Sen. Jack Latvala‘s expansive and controversial bill that would exempt the employment history of police officers exempt from public records disclosure sailed through the Senate Criminal Justice Committee Monday. Latvia said he realized the need for the legislation after a Clearwater man was able to unearth information about a Clearwater police officer by […]

Mitch PerryMarch 30, 2015

Clearwater GOP Sen. Jack Latvala‘s expansive and controversial bill that would exempt the employment history of police officers exempt from public records disclosure sailed through the Senate Criminal Justice Committee Monday. Latvia said he realized the need for the legislation after a Clearwater man was able to unearth information about a Clearwater police officer by […]

Mitch PerryMarch 18, 2015

A bill exempting taxpayers’ email addresses from the state’s open record law advanced in the Florida Senate on Wednesday. Clearwater Republican Jack Latvala argues the proposal protects consumers from scammers who use digital skills to defraud people. Latvala says he’s sponsoring the bill because tax collectors requested he do so. Senate Minority Leader Arthenia Joyner questioned the […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorFebruary 23, 2015

So, this exists: “Wish you had the Government-in-the-Sunshine Manual with you at all times but hate the idea of lugging around that heavy book everywhere you go? Good news! The 2015 Government in the Sunshine Manual is now available through Amazon.com for the amazingly low price of just $9.99!” Well, holy crap. Now all of […]

James CallFebruary 3, 2015

A bill exempting taxpayers’ email addresses from the state’s open record law Tuesday cleared a Senate committee on a 7 to 0 vote. Sen. Jack Latvala argues the proposal protects consumers from scammers who use digital skills to defraud people. “We want to protect people from being ripped off. It’s fraud,” said Latvala, who had […]

James CallFebruary 3, 2015

A bill exempting taxpayers’ email addresses from the state’s open record law Tuesday cleared a Senate committee on a 7 to 0 vote. Sen. Jack Latvala argues the proposal protects consumers from scammers who use digital skills to defraud people. “We want to protect people from being ripped off. It’s fraud,” said Latvala, who had […]

Shannon NickinsonJune 3, 2014

When the First Amendment Foundation publicized its transparency scorecard last month, it found that on average, cities and counties in Florida had lots of room for improvement in sharing the workings of government with the governed. On average, local government websites earned 52 out of 100 possible points on a transparency scorecard. The scores were […]

Tag: First Amendment Foundation
Image via AP.

Tom O'Hara: Fiasco at hospital district a lesson in benefits of open government

Bill would protect names of criminal witnesses

Wilton Simpson files legislation on public records litigation

Jack Latvala’s law enforcement shield bill advances to Senate floor

Jack Latvala's law enforcement shield bill advances to Senate floor

Jack Latvala bill to exempt taxpayers’ email addresses from open records law moves forward

Email insights: Hot diggity dog, Florida Sunshine Law manual now available digitally

Jack Latvala’s proposed open record exemption sails through first committee stop

Jack Latvala's proposed open record exemption sails through first committee stop

Shannon Nickinson: Cities, counties do poor job of sharing information with citizens