Tallahassee, Florida -- It is being called outrageous, offensive and shocking.
Although those words have been used to describe some lawmakers' antics involving cutting funding for the University of South Florida, what people are referring to is another bill that gives lawmakers special privileges and curtails your right to know.
The bill which passed the House Judiciary Committee Thursday is an assault on Florida's Government in the Sunshine and transparency by lawmakers.
As you are probably aware almost all public documents in the state are open for the public to inspect and get copies of including emails, memos and letters to and from public officials.
But the bill would say legislators and their staffs are exempt from that requirement. That means they would not have to turn over any of those items and you couldn't take them to court to force the issue.
The Florida League of Woman voters says the bill takes the smoke filled back rooms of state government and puts a clear billboard across the door saying citizen may not enter. Barbara Peterson of the first amendment foundation says it is outrageous.
"My first response was, 'oh my God what are they thinking?' At a time when the public trust in government is at its lowest, when the trust in legislators and our congressmen is at its lowest, in my lifetime, we're now protecting them. Or they're protecting themselves from testifying or producing documents that would hold them accountable for their actions. I find that really stunning."
What this means is that if a lobbyist had written JD Alexander about the latest USF flap and promised favors if he cut the schools funding, you would never know. In addition, the privilege extends even after a legislator leaves office and when he dies.
If this outrages you contact your state representatives and senator and remind them they work for us and Tallahassee belongs the citizens not the lawmakers.