Are Minnesota Democrats More Enlightened Than Florida Dems?

Diametrically opposed reactions by Minnesota and Florida "progressives" aren't casting the Sunshine State in a very positive light.

When the Democratically controlled Minnesota Senate passed a 2005 law requiringmost local governments to disclose their three most-highly compensated officials each year, the party brass rightfully praised the action.

But when Florida Gov. Rick Scott launched a personnel-compensation website -- Florida Has a Right to Know -- he drew yawns or niggling criticism from the left.

"Critics considered it foul that he chose to highlight the 542 government pensioners that annually receive more than $100,000 from the taxpayers, rather than releasing thedata on all pensioners in the Florida Retirement System," observed James Mattox of the conservative James Madison Institute.

That's a legitimate beef, as far as it goes. But the fact is, Minnesota's initiative only highlights "highly compensated" local employees. Scott's site goes further by opening up the state's books.

"Frankly, rather than beating up on Governor Scott, 'good government' advocates in Florida (and elsewhere) ought to be promoting the passage of Minnesota-style transparency laws because citizens in Florida (and throughout the country) need to be alerted to any problems in excessive compensation," Mattox writes.

"The last thing taxpayers need right now is for runaway government pensions to be threatening the provision of vital public services, sucking more tax dollars out of the job-creating private sector, or undermining the pay ofour most meritorious teachers."