[Op-ed] Protect Floridians’ right to know: Where we stand

The art of compromise seems to have died in Washington, D.C. Fortunately, it still has a pulse in Tallahassee.

This week the Florida Senate sponsor of one of the most pernicious bills in the current legislative session agreed to some positive changes. The amended bill isn't perfect, but it's greatly improved. 

Now the House needs to follow suit.

The legislation in question would have gutted the state law that requires government agencies to release their records to the public — one of two pillars, along with open meetings, in Florida's proud tradition of government in the sunshine.

As introduced, the bill would have stripped the guarantee that agencies caught violating the open-records law would reimburse the legal costs for citizens who take them to court. Continue…

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