Scott Changes Open Records Policy
After heavy criticism from the media and Rep. Steve Perman, D-Boca Raton, about his open records policy, Gov. Rick Scott said in a memo Thursday he will be tweaking how much his office charges for open records requests. Scott had previously instituted an open records policy that put in place hefty fees for requests that took longer than 30 minutes to fulfill. The new policy would charge a lower hourly rate and no fee for the first 30 minutes. It looks like they are headed in the right direction, said First Amendment Foundation Director and General Counsel Jim Rhea. Floridas open records laws are among the strongest in the country and allow anyone to access documents and electronic materials produced using taxpayer funds. The media frequently files open records requests to uncover information about government activities. Scott defended his policy of charging more for records earlier this month as the right thing to do in order to protect taxpayers. He said his office has been overwhelmed with requests.
Senators Introduce BP Bill
At least 80 percent of any proceeds from BP penalties under the Clean Water Act would be earmarked for the Gulf Coast states to go toward the long-term health and benefit of the coastal ecosystem and its economies, under a bill filed in the U.S. Senate Thursday that backers hope will help the region recover from the worst oil spill in U.S. history. The RESTORE the Gulf Coast Act of 2011 was filed by U.S. Sens. Mary L. Landrieu, D-La., and Richard Shelby, R-Ala. The bill is being co-sponsored by Gulf Coast senators including both Florida delegates. Sen. Barbara Boxer, chair of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, has committed to taking up the bill in her committee as soon as possible. That said, U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., told a group in Pensacola last week that the wheels turn slowly in the U.S. Senate. Enivronmental groups lauded the bill. At a time of heated division, it is heartening to see a bipartisan group of senators work together to provide the means to heal the Gulf of Mexico and its communities," said Emily Woglom, Ocean Conservancy director of government relations, in a statement.
Index Sees Weak Home Improvement Spending
An uptick seen early in 2011 in consumer spending on home improvements and remodeling has tailed off, and analysts at Harvard University on Thursday said they expect spending to remain "volatile and weak" over the next several quarters. According to the Leading Indicator of Remodeling Activity, which was released by the university's Joint Center for Housing Studies and estimates national homeowner spending on improvements, annual remodeling spending through the first quarter of 2012 will be down 4 percent. "The recent slowdown in the economy has caused home improvement spending to weaken again," Eric Belsky, managing director of the joint center, said in a statement. "Falling consumer confidence levels have undermined interest in discretionary projects."
Westcott Named Insurance Consumer Advocate
Robin Westcott, an attorney and longtime insurance regulator, will take over as Floridas insurance consumer advocate. State Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater announced the appointment Wednesday. Westcott also will continue in her role as executive director of the Medicaid and Public Assistance Fraud Strike Force, a panel that Atwater has spearheaded. Robin will be an ardent, outspoken and persistent advocate for Floridas insurance consumers, Atwater said in a prepared statement.
