FSNE - Sunshine Sunday

"Improper services to capitalists are usually rendered behind closed doors'' said President Theodore Roosevelt, who knew first hand the corruption and self-dealing politicians engaged in away from the public's gaze. As Roosevelt suggests, the best way to keep government accountable is to open it to the sunshine. We are lucky in Florida, our Constitution guarantees citizens access to public records and meetings in a way that is as far-reaching as any state in the nation. But every year the Legislature tries to draw the shades, and this session is no exception.

Without a strong commitment to public records and open meetings, Floridians would be unable to track where their tax money is going or the content of contracts between the state and private vendors. Back room decisions could be made among elected officials without public knowledge or input. And the work-product of government: environmental studies, building and restaurant inspections, and police disciplinary records, could be put out of reach.

To mark our commitment to open government, the St. Petersburg Times is joining newspapers around the state to promote the third annual ""Sunshine Sunday,'' organized by the Florida Society of Newspaper Editors. The point is to raise awareness of the inestimable value of having our public officials and all mechanisms of government operate in the sunshine, and the dangers posed to governmental accountability during this year's legislative session.

Perhaps the most concerning measure of the nearly 60 open government exemptions that have been proposed so far is one that would prevent law enforcement agencies and private individuals from keeping a record of firearm owners after 60 days. Policing agencies generally do not collect or cull through the names of gun owners but they do review lists of gun sales at pawn shops, made available in electronic form. If that information has to be expunged after two months, guns used later in crimes will be harder to track. The bill (H.B. 155), which is being pushed by the National Rifle Association and has many detractors among law enforcement, would levy a fine of up to $5 million for any violation. Barbara Petersen, president of Florida's First Amendment Foundation, says of the bill: "It sort of takes your breath away, it's so stunningly bad.'' The measure has already passed the House.

Another House-passed exemption would give House Speaker Johnnie Byrd's pet project - a publicly-funded Alzheimer's center - the ability to operate without public scrutiny. While it might make sense to protect the trade secrets and proprietary information of a research facility, the legislation (H.B. 147) would also close off information on its corporate officers and employees - details the public should know.

And this is the second year in a row that the Legislature is proposing to give a special public records exemptions to the cell phone records of all law enforcement personnel. Under the bill (S.B. 2370), the public would be unable to scrutinize the potential misuse of a taxpayer-funded cell phone.

Petersen says there are some strong voices in Tallahassee who will attempt to stand as bulwarks against such entrenchments, but every year it is a struggle to keep the special interests from darkening their little corner. These dilutions damage the ability of Floridians' to be knowledgeable about how their state is being run, and each should be vigorously opposed.