Sunshine, Indeed

Published March 16th, 2008

“Government access is for everyone”

That’s the theme of this year’s Sunshine Week -- named not because of Florida’s world-renowned fame as the Sunshine state; rather to make citizens more aware that ours is a participatory government -- and that our freedoms as citizens are insured and preserved by transparency in government activities.

It’s no accident that the First Amendment is in fact, first.  It's first because the free flow of information and ideas is the cornerstone of our republican democracy. 

Historically, government has never been predisposed to invite citizen access to its workings.

Fortunately, and here in Florida, wise men and women as early as 1909 saw the public benefit to transparent government.  In fact, can government of, by and for the people be anything other than transparent if it’s in fact to be self-government?

In 1909 Florida passed the Public Record’s Law -- Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes. This law says that any records made or received by any public agency in the course of its official business are available for inspection, unless specifically exempted by the Legislature.

Since then, what’s come to be known as a public record has expanded beyond just documents to include tapes, photographs, film, maps, books, sound recordings and records stored in computers or on removable computer media.

But the so-called “Sunshine Law” waited until 1967 for approval.  It’s in Chapter 286 of the Florida statutes and beyond just access to governmental records, it’s assures a basic right of access to most meetings of boards, commissions and other governing bodies of state and local governmental agencies or authorities.

This was augmented as well in 1990 by a constitutional amendment specifically insuring open meetings in the legislative branch of state government.

Today, and throughout Florida, newspapers are marking “Sunshine Sunday” -- reminding readers that open access to government exists.

More to the point, and in the practical sense, what doesn’t get published doesn’t get reviewed.  And what doesn’t get reviewed is imposed, rather than embraced.

In the final analysis, if we permit that to happen we become subjects and cease being citizens, and the great American experiment of government of, by and for the people would become a piece of gum on the hob-nailed boots of history.

Here and Now

Recently the mayor of our neighbor slightly to the north - Lantana - called police to his house because his son was smashing windows. The 18-year-old was then arrested for threatening a police officer.

What prompted the glass-breaking rampage?

Acccording to police, the young man was angry because his parents bought him a two-wheel drive truck and he had asked for a four-wheel drive.

The rage stemmed from the young man’s apparent belief that a four-wheel was what he had received, only to learn that it wasn’t when he tried to use it as a four-wheeler and damaged it.

The damage included smashing the new truck’s window --and windows at his parent’s home.

Is there anything else that needs to be said about the current culture?

$1 Billion Less

As the revenue estimators finalize the forecast, it appears the estimate of general revenue receipts in the current (2007-08) budget year will reduced by almost $1 billion and the estimate for next year may be reduced by up to $2 billion. This leaves about $24.5 billion for the next budget. 

“Now is a time for great fiscal statesmanship,” said Dominic M. Calabro, President and CEO of the non-profit, non-partisan research institute and government watchdog Florida TaxWatch.

“Florida must not try to tax its way out of this economic downturn, which would only make matters worse.  Instead the state must work aggressively to help the economy and streamline government activities to improve efficiency and thereby reduce cost.” 

Easier said than done - but right on the mark, and desperately needed.