Florida lawmakers didn’t make the grade when it came to accessibility for public records and meetings, according to a new scorecard released from the Florida Society of News Editors.
State legislators were graded based on information provided from the Florida First Amendment Foundation about how lawmakers introduced public records bills and how they voted on a variety of proposals relating to public records.
Legislators received three points for a floor vote, seven points for co-sponsoring a bill and 10 points for sponsoring a bill on the FFAF list. Voting against opennness loses points while voting for openness gains points.
State lawmakers received a “bonus point” if they communicated with the FFAF about a bill.
A Palm Beach Post analysis found most lawmakers didn’t do too hot -- of the 160 legislators, three received “F’s,” 77 received “D’s,” 71 got “C’s,” and nine received “B’s.” No state lawmakers received an “A” letter grade.
Because the Florida Legislature operates under the Sunshine Law, 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 Florida Legislature.
FFAF president Barbara Petersen said this year saw a “near record” of new public records exemptions created, but noted “we see a few bills that would actually improve access to either meetings or records.”
In 2017, the Legislature created a total of 28 exemptions, sending them to Gov. Rick Scott for approval. If approved, the total number of exemptions would be nearly 1,200 since the 1960s when the Sunshine Law first went into effect.
The highest grades, a B-plus, went to two Democrats: Reps. Joe Geller, D-Aventura, and Lori Berman, D-Lantana.
More Republicans fared worse than Democrats, most of whom received C-minus grades. GOP lawmakers, on the other hand, nearly failed, receiving D-plus grades.
Several lawmakers said their poor grades weren’t quite so black and white, however and criticized the grading system for unfairly placing judgment calls on legislation which actually protected needy citizens.
In fact, some of them wore their failing letter grades as a symbol of pride to serving their constituents.
“I have never been more proud to earn a D- as I did on this ‘scorecard,’” Rep. Blaise Ingoglia, R-Spring Hill, wrote.
Ingoglia said one of the major contributing factors to his low score was the fact that he co-sponsored and voted for a bill to keep murder witnesses’ names shielded from the public. Supporters of the legislation said it would keep them safe from retaliation when testifying in a trial.
Ingoglia also noted lawmakers received “extra points” if they communicated with special interest groups prior to voting to see where they stood.
“I don’t need to check with them,” Ingoglia said. “I will always do what’s right.”“One major contributing factor was that I voted for, and co-sponsored, a bill that would keep murder witnesses' names shielded from the public to keep them safe from retaliation when testifying. In addition, legislators earned "extra points" if they communicated with a special interest group prior to the vote to see where they stand. I don't need to check with them. I will always do what's right.
“If voting to keep the names of murder witnesses private earns me a D then I will be making a D or F again next year,” wrote Rep. Chris Latvala, R-Clearwater. “This organization is being absurd.”
To view the full scorecard, click here.
