FSNE - Sunshine Sunday

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Editorials

Cartoons

Daytona Beach News-Journal by Bruce Beattie
The Florida Times-Union by Ed Gamble
Florida Today by Jeff Parker
The Gainesville Sun by J Fuller
The News Herald by John Russo
Northwest Florida Daily News by Craig M. Terry
St. Augustine Record by Ed Hall
Scripps Treasure Coast Newspapers by James Casciari
South Florida Sun-Sentinel by Chan Lowe
The Tampa Tribune by Paul Combs

Columns

Sunshine laws safeguard the public trust by Charlie Crist, Attorney General of Florida
The need for sunshine in government by Jim Davis, US Congressman from Tampa
Sunshine laws benefit us by Tom Gallagher, Chief Financial Officer of Florida
This year the frowns win, 41-2 us by Mike Gimignani, The Florida Times-Union
Public records are open to all by Eric Kopp, Okeechobee News
Governing in the sunshine by Earl Maucker, South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Secrecy is the enemy of freedom by Joe Negron, state representative for District 82
Florida's Sunshine and Public Records are about the quality of life by Margo C. Pope, St. Augustine Record
Sunshine Sunday by Ken Pruitt, Member of the Florida Senate
Sunshine Sunday by Everett Rice, Member of the Florida House
Open government is the core of democracy by Patrick Rice, Northwest Florida Daily News
Freedom of the Press: Critical to Keeping Government in the Sunshine by Rod Smith, Member of the Florida Senate
Keep the sun shining on Florida by Michael Goforth, Scripps Treasure Coast Newspapers
Sunshine Sunday Op-Ed by Barbara Petersen, First Amendment Foundation
Looking for everything under the sun by Mike Wright, Citrus County Chronicle

Related stories

Records compliance (The Sarasota Herald-Tribune)
Records request (The Bradenton Herald)
Government e-mail hard to forward to the public (The Daytona Beach News-Journal)
Audit Results (The Daytona Beach News-Journal)
Government public information officers ease or hinder the flow of public information. (The Daytona Beach News-Journal)
Expanding the public records exemption for autopsy photos. (The Daytona Beach News-Journal)
Records request. (The Florida Times-Union)

The Need for Sunshine in Government

By Jim Davis

This week, we celebrate Sunshine Sunday, highlighting the importance of open government and our state’s Sunshine and Open Records laws. Government in the sunshine is not just a clever phrase or a handy slogan. It is an important principle of open government that every elected official at every level should uphold and practice every day.

Open government means an accessible and accountable government. Open government means debate and decision-making takes place in the public arena. Open government means that everyone has a voice.

Sunshine is a powerful disinfectant, especially in government. We need to open the doors of government and bring back sunshine in Tallahassee. Too often, decisions are made behind closed doors. Too often, decisions are made with the input of the few instead of the many.

Government in the sunshine is government at its best.

The media plays an important role in holding government and elected officials accountable and ensuring open government.

Citizens also have an important role to play in holding their elected leaders accountable for open government. The people have a right to know how decisions are made and have a right to participate in the decision-making process.

That’s one of the reasons that I am running for governor. It’s time for us to replace the culture of secrecy that has taken root in Tallahassee. The people of Florida deserve a government that is open and accessible both to them and to the independent media. It ensures that Floridians have the kind of honest and responsive government they expect and deserve.

In Florida, the notion of sunshine in government has particular significance. The importance of open government is codified in our Constitution. We have an expansive open records law that sets high and broad expectations for open government. The people’s right to know is the bedrock of our democracy and our state, so it is fitting that we recognize and celebrate Sunshine Sunday, and work to uphold this principle every day.

Jim Davis is a Democratic candidate for Governor, and a US Congressman from Tampa. Please visit his website at: www.jimdavis2006.com