Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

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’ […]

Jac VerSteegSeptember 20, 2015

Open government sustained a serious setback this month. For this, you can “thank” the city of West Palm Beach, along with West Palm Beach Mayor Jeri Muoio and spokesman Elliot Cohen. As reported extensively by WPTV NewsChannel 5 and The Palm Beach Post, the city – in response to public records requests – posted information […]

Ryan RayAugust 12, 2015

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Despite the recent political pyrotechnics on display in Tallahassee last month when former Gov. Jeb Bush came back to town to highlight lobbying reforms approved during his administration, recent initiatives to clean up Adams Street have produced more heat than sunshine, according to a recently released national survey. The Sunlight Foundation, a Washington, D.C.-based public interest watchdog […]

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 […]

Daniel TilsonFebruary 19, 2015

So we’ve got this Sunshine Law in Florida. It’s supposed to be all about “open” government decision-making and freedom of information, including unrestricted access to public records. As many of us now know more than ever before, Florida Gov. Rick Scott and the Cabinet have made a farce of the law. And they’ve had plenty […]

Peter SchorschJanuary 15, 2015

A new scandal exploded across Tallahassee on Tuesday afternoon after Gov. Rick Scott admitted that Gerald Bailey did not voluntarily resign as commissioner of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, but was forced out against his will. Under Florida law, the governor cannot fire the head of FDLE without the support of at least one other member […]

Peter SchorschJune 5, 2014

Legally speaking, the charge facing former state Rep. Chris Dorworth is no more serious than attaching an invalid license plate to a vehicle. A second-degree misdemeanor for violating Florida’s Sunshine laws is just as wrong, in the court’s eyes, as disorderly intoxication or loitering, or driving with a suspended license. Aiding and abetting an elected official in […]

Guest AuthorFebruary 20, 2014

The departure of Florida State University President Eric Barron to join the Penn State University system was met with much surprise, as was the leaving of former State University System Chancellor Frank Brogan, also recently migrating to Pennsylvania, and before him the move of John Cavanaugh from the University of West Florida to this same […]

Julie DelegalJanuary 5, 2014

It’s a principle of our representative democracy that we, the people, don’t weigh in on every bit of minutia entailed in making laws and policy. The oft-quoted maxim, usually attributed to Prussian statesman Otto Von Bismark, posits that lawmaking, like sausage-making, is a process better left unviewed. But at what points in the “sausage-making” should […]

Tag: sunshine laws

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

Jac Wilder VerSteeg: West Palm’s version of Wikileaks

New survey ranks Sunshine State worst in the nation in lobbyist transparency

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

Daniel Tilson: Ain’t no sunshine: Make our legislators clean the mud off Florida government ‘transparency’

Peter Schorsch: What’s the Scott administration going to do about Bailey’s firing?

Peter Schorsch: Dorworth guilty of not taking advantage of chances given him

Ed Moore: Higher education in Florida, from paradise to Pennsylvania

Julie Delegal: Voters benefit when the ‘sausage’ is made in public