Governor's office strives to meet records requests
Published February 16, 2004
Re: On the record, Feb. 10.
A St. Petersburg Times editorial about government's response to public records requests left a distinctly incorrect impression about my office's handling of public records requests and my commitment to open government in Florida. Ensuring that all Floridians can exercise their right to scrutinize government records is part of the law I swore to uphold as governor, and it has always been an obligation I take very seriously. That's why my office has a strong track record of upholding that commitment. Far from merely meeting the letter of Sunshine provisions, we work to ensure that public records requests are thoroughly met for reporters and citizens alike.
In 2003, my office carried out more than 200 public records requests, consisting of well over 10,000 pages of information given out to citizens. Allowing citizens access to the inner workings of their government is simply part of what it means to be a faithful public servant, and we go to great lengths to fulfill that responsibility. Large requests received by state agencies and my offices are not unusual, and can require tremendous effort from staff members to fulfill. One recent request required more than 50 manpower hours from governor's office staffers to complete.
These numbers only constitute requests substantial enough to merit a record be kept. Our office meets smaller public records requests every day. Some requests are larger than others, but we strive to meet all in a reasonable amount of time. In cases when a request, or part of a request is specifically excluded from public record disclosure rules, we take great pains to provide the requester with a basis for withholding information.
Serving the people of Florida is at the top of my list of priorities as governor. I believe deeply in the right of citizens to investigate for themselves the activities their tax dollars pay for. I'm proud of our track record of working with Floridians to meet their requests, and I encourage all governmental agencies in Florida to follow our example.
-- Jeb Bush, governor, Tallahassee
CE Broker subscriptions are optional
Re: A continuing education that examines the political ties that bind, Feb. 10.
This article leaves your readers with an inaccurate picture of the statutorily-mandated continuing education (CE) tracking system and the circumstances in which the contract was awarded. Florida's licensed health professionals must maintain up-to-date CEs as a condition of licensure renewal. In the past, these CE hours were randomly audited; however, subsection 456.025 (7), Florida Statutes required the implementation of an electronic system to track CEs.
Although the article states otherwise, more than one vendor submitted a bid for the contract. The current vendor for the CE tracking system was awarded the contract through a fair and competitive bid process. It should also be noted that the award of the contract was upheld by an independent administrative law judge who heard the protest of another vendor who submitted a bid.
In actual fact, a subscription to CE Broker is not required in order to renew licensure. Despite any opinions to the contrary, subscription to CE Broker is completely optional for licensees.
I would greatly appreciate your effort to clarify the misconceptions of the CE tracking system that the Feb. 10 article created. As a division of the Florida Department of Health, it is our duty to protect the health of our state's residents and visitors. This statutorily mandated CE tracking system will help ensure that our health care providers are maintaining the training and skills they need to best serve the citizens of our state.
-- Amy M. Jones, J.D., director, Division of Medical Quality Assurance, Florida Department of Health, Tallahassee
The trend toward the GOP
Re: Strangers in the South, by Zell Miller, and Blinded by the Right, by Robyn Blumner.
Interesting articles in the Feb. 1 Perspective section. Both writers lament the increasing irrelevance of the Democratic Party. Zell Miller takes the point of view that the Democrats have brought it on themselves by being out of touch with mainstream America. Robyn Blumner takes the point of view (it seems) that the rest of us just aren't bright enough to see we are being hoodwinked by the Republican Party.
I would say that while the majority of Americans think there is quite a bit of hoodwinking going on with politicians in general, they find the Republicans the lesser of the two evils. Since I was a kid, I have viewed the Democratic Party as "the Hand-Out Party." Its solution to societal ills is to redistribute wealth by taxing the most, those who have made the most. I would submit that untaxed or less taxed, these dollars would end up being invested in the stock market, or venture capital to create more jobs, or better-paying jobs. Even if they ended up in the banks, they would end up being small-business loans and low-interest construction loans that are good for the economy.
We do indeed need some social programs. There are those among us who cannot fend for themselves. But our Founding Fathers were extremely conservative men, and I believe they roll over in their graves contemplating a giant government that acts to some degree as a wet nurse to the citizenry.
Outsourcing of jobs is the biggest challenge to this country that I see currently. These floodgates were opened by Bill Clinton and a Democrat-controlled Congress, with NAFTA. Loss of tax base in this country is what will "get Grandma kicked out of the nursing home." I say, let both parties back an agenda that will make it easier on entrepreneurs and employers in this country, not harder.
The other big challenge is al-Qaida and friends. I have long viewed the Democratic Party as "the Appeasement Party." If Clinton had taken strong action when the first World Trade Center bombing occurred in 1993, it would be still standing today. Instead, he tried to kill an elephant with a BB gun by firing a cruise missile or two. I guess he was too concerned about upsetting foreign governments and his own constituency of liberals. President Bush's agenda is to make terrorists the hunted instead of the hunter. That is the agenda that mainstream America is much more comfortable with. Is it any wonder that more and more Democrats (including many African-Americans) are voting Republican?
-- Claude Hensley, Clearwater
Kerry's reasoned responses
Re: Record makes Kerry hard to label, Feb. 8.
The article by Times political editor Adam Smith has convinced me that John Kerry is not a politically correct, narrow-minded ideologue. Whereas some may view the senator's "inconsistencies" as baffling, I see them as reasoned responses to each issue. For example, hunting and using guns are not inconsistent with gun control. The National Rifle Association might like that view, but many gun-control advocates do not support it.
I thank God that the broad-brush liberal tag, so loved by extremists of both the right and left, does not fit Sen. John Kerry. You've convinced me to vote for him.
-- Arlene Seipel Ditmars, Dunedin
Ideological economics
Re: Irresponsible budgets are bipartisan, Feb. 11.
Robert Samuelson's column on "irresponsible budgets" is a classic example of shallow thinking by ideological "economists."
Agreed we have a dreadful budget problem. His "solution" includes four paragraphs on spending cuts and three lines on raising taxes. His cuts would include eliminating "mass transit construction subsidies and Amtrak" as well as community development block grants.
Transit/train subsidies are to help us get free of our automobiles (and consequent dependence on foreign oil, and hugely increased medical costs from obesity, pollution and vastly more road accidents).
Block grants are the major source of funding for many of our "safety net" programs - in effect he would cut funding for Head Start (already miserably underfunded), disregarding the likely result of significantly lowered achievement in school with all its consequent complications, unemployability being one of the worst.
Government is not a business. It's an agreement to provide services that cannot be provided otherwise in a civilized society. It's supposed to guarantee us the clean air, peaceful and well-educated children, etc., that some of us acknowledge we have to pay for!
-- Eileen O'Sullivan, St. Petersburg
Glad to see this love story
Re: Can't hurry love, Feb. 10.
Kudos to the Times for including the love story of a same-sex couple in this special feature! I was actually not interested in reading this series, as it is disheartening to see only heterosexual relationships recognized in this way. I ended up seeing the article by chance the other night, and am glad that I did. I have no doubt that it took a lot of courage for the couple involved to tell their story, as well as the Times to print it.
I wasn't surprised to see the two negative letters to the editor in the Feb. 13 edition. It's sad that with all the horrible things happening in the world, these two letter writers had to complain about something that doesn't impact them at all. Sad, but not surprising. One of them made the remark that she couldn't deal with having to read about this with her morning coffee. Might I remind her that no one forces anyone to read sections of the paper that they don't like.
-- Becky DiRusso, Clearwater
Human rights legislation needed
Re: Not with breakfast, please and MTV morals, letters, Feb. 3.
Thank you for publishing letters from persons who consider lesbians "trash" and immoral. It only proves to me discrimination is "alive and well" here and everywhere. This is why we must continue to support human rights legislation in all levels of government. Equality cannot be for a chosen few. It must be for all.
-- June C. Webber, Gulfport
A refreshing change
Re: MTV morals, letter.
When reading the Feb. 13 letters, I couldn't believe that someone could be so hateful as to condemn the St. Petersburg Times for publishing the "lesbian story" Can't hurry love.
To say that it is a "family newspaper" is ludicrous. In this "family newspaper" are articles that deal with murder, rape, child abductions, wars, human suffering, etc. To read stories of people finding love, no matter in what form, or if we agree with it or not, is a refreshing change.
With all the problems in the world today who cares who is in love with whom, and if they are of the same sex or not. As long as the parties involved are happy, what possible difference does it make to you or me? The world is constantly changing and people are becoming more educated and understanding of the various lifestyles that exist, and have existed since time began.
I personally feel that the St. Petersburg Times is contributing to the education of those who think that if we don't see things they don't exist. Thank you to the Times for thinking "outside the box."
-- Dan Herzog, Pinellas Park
Focusing on family
Re: At 92, a mother again.
I just wanted to commend you for putting the story about the 92-year-old great-great-grandmother Lucille Bouges on the Feb. 10 front page. I think that such moving, family oriented stories should always be on your front page. I would also like to know how I could help that tremendous lady. Thank you again. May God richly bless you and yours.
-- R. Preston Stansell, Palm Harbor
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