Crist’s Love-In With Sunshine Week
Posted by gilt on March 16, 2007
The First Amendment Foundation’s Sunshine Recognition Luncheon this week in Tallahassee provided Gov. Charlie Crist another opportunity to make clear his administration is really, really different from his predecessor’s on Sunshine issues. “I’m really passionate about it,” Crist told his appreciative audience of journalists and ranking government officials. MC Mike Vasalinda, introducing Crist, referred diplomatically to the Bush years as “somewhat of a black hole” on access and records issues.
Crist issued a proclamation hailing Sunshine Week and restating his commitment on open government and public records issues. Lt. Gov. Kottkamp, a longtime Sunshine supporter, said that he and the governor believe “that open government is the best way we can respect the public trust that is bestowed upon all of us who serve the people.”
Atty. Gen. Bill McCollum used the occasion to signal his support also. He announced a grant to the Brechner Center to study how new technology can make public records more accessible.
The voices off all three, plus Crist’s veto pen, could be influential in persuading legislators to be very careful about drilling more exemptions in the Sunshine laws.
