FSNE - Sunshine Sunday

Frank Lukasik, a member of the local Curmudgeon Club, recently penned a guest column critical of Florida's Sunshine laws. Lukasik argued that the laws handcuff elected officials — making it too difficult for them to share information or come to a consensus on key issues.

While Lukasik makes a legitimate point, the inconvenience of working in the Sunshine is minuscule compared to the alternative.

Florida's Sunshine Laws were passed to guarantee the government is responsible to the people. Without these guidelines, we may not know how or why a bill comes to pass or whether a lawmaker has financial ties to an industry affected by his legislation. We may not know that a rapist is loose in our neighborhood, that a sexual offender lives at our child's bus stop or that our local county commission or city council has signed a contract that will a) raise our taxes, or b) unjustly reward an individual or organization. These are just a few examples of the protection awarded the public through the state's Sunshine Laws.

Recently, in a key court decision, a circuit judge unsealed records in a criminal case against the producer of the risque video series "Girls Gone Wild." The records had been sealed while prosecutors pursued what they said was an ongoing case against a man accused of racketeering and promoting the sexual performance of a child.

In opening the documents, Judge Dedee Costellor wrote that secrecy can only diminish respect for the court.

Secrecy can also stain the public's perception of our Legislature. Last year, legislators voted to give $310 million of taxpayer money to Scripps Research Institute to lure the biomedical industry to South Florida. Lawmakers wisely decided to form an agency to administer how the money was dispersed. But, lawmakers wanted to keep the public in the dark about how those funds were being spent.

Another problem area is on its way to being cleared up after Gov. Jeb Bush expressed concern over fund-raising organizations called committees of continuing existence. These groups were able to raise limitless amounts of money for lawmakers seeking offices such as the Speaker of the House or Senate president. There were no restrictions on how much money could be raised or how it could be used and no requirement to tell who contributed.

Lawmakers who are uncomfortable working in the public light, need to conform and temper their annual assault on Sunshine Laws. In Florida, the public has a right to know.