Florida Politics by Peter Schorsch
April 6, 2020
Give us the records
Our Sunshine State moniker doesn’t just come from the gorgeous weather. The public records laws are known around the world for shining a light on how government really works. So why is it that each year, lawmakers look to stifle public records laws?
During the 2020 Legislative Session, there was once again a push to make university presidential searches exempt from public review. Supporters said the effort was needed to draw top candidates to the search.
We call malarkey, and so did the First Amendment Foundation.
With Pamela Marsh, the newly named President, at its helm, the First Amendment Foundation blocked the effort, ensuring these critical decisions are made in the sunshine.
The pen is mightier
Let’s give credit where credit is due: Without the dogged reporting of Mary Ellen Klas and Samantha Gross, it’s unclear we would have ever known the Florida Coalition Against Domestic Violence was misusing funds.
In a series of reports, Klas and Gross revealed Tiffany Carr, the former CEO of the Florida Coalition Against Domestic Violence, received more than $7.5 million since 2016, including an estimated $5 million in cash payments for paid time off.
