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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsIs DeSantis darkening Florida's sunny open-records laws?
Florida has long been known for sunshine -- not only the warm rays that brighten its beaches but also the light of public scrutiny afforded by some of the nation's strongest meetings and records laws.
Although years of rollbacks have gradually clouded the impact, advocates are ringing alarms that this year presents the greatest threat to transparency yet in the state that coined the name Sunshine Law for its open-government rules.
Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, weighing a presidential bid, is pursuing a home-state agenda that could make it harder for people to learn what public officials are doing or to speak out against them. In an unprecedented move for the Sunshine State, DeSantis has claimed an executive right to keep key government records secret. He's also seeking to weaken a nearly 60-year-old national legal precedent protecting journalists and others who publish critical comments about public figures.
Florida's Republican-led Legislature appears eager to carry out his vision. As their annual session began last week, lawmakers filed dozens of bills that would add to the state's lengthy list of open-government exceptions.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/desantis-darkening-floridas-sunny-open-124922177.html
RKP5637
(67,104 posts)chicoescuela
(1,025 posts)RKP5637
(67,104 posts)model of his accomplishments for his run for US president 2024. I hope Americans are paying attention!!!