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May 2019

First Amendment Foundation and others file suit against DeSantis and Cabinet

In an effort to protect the public's right to know what their government is doing, the First Amendment Foundation and several Florida newspapers have filed suit against the Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Cabinet for holding a public meeting in Israel. 

From a First Amendment Foundation release:

Today the First Amendment Foundation, joined by the Miami Herald, the Tampa Bay Times, Gannett, and GateHouse Media have filed a complaint against the Florida Cabinet for violations of the Sunshine Law related to the scheduled Cabinet meeting in Jerusalem. In filing the complaint, Foundation President Barbara Petersen said:
 
"The decision to challenge tomorrow¹s meeting of the Florida
Cabinet was not lightly made - it came after long deliberation and many discussions of both public policy and legal issues. Florida¹s constitution requires that meetings of the Cabinet at which public business is to be transacted or discussed be open to the public. We wish the Governor and his Cabinet success on their trade mission. But as our complaint makes clear, there are legitimate concerns regarding the constitutionality of holding a Cabinet meeting that Floridians cannot attend."
- Barbara A. Petersen, President, First Amendment Foundation
 
As we reported before here on Crowley Political Report, and during this week's High Tops and Politics podcast. the notion of conducting a public meeting in a foreign country is an affront to the Florida Constitution and Florida citizens. It is especially troubling that Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody is participating in this charade. As Attorney General she is supposed to be a guardian of the Sunshine Law just like every Attorney General before her.
 
In a feeble attempt to dodge the law, DeSantis and the Cabinet are now calling it a "ceremonial" meeting. There is no such thing envisioned in the law and the fact is they intend to discuss public issues concerning the environment and emergency management.
 
Florida citizens have a constitutional right to attend these meetings and to speak at these meeting. Simple watching the meeting on a live stream from 6,000 miles away does not meet either the spirit or intent of the Sunshine Law.
 
Here is a PDF of the complaint filed by the First Amendment Foundation. (Disclosure: I was once served as a Trustee on the Foundation board.)
 

Ron DeSantis shares long list of those joining him in Israel

Moments ago, the governor's office released this rather lengthy list of folks joining him on his trip to Israel.....and here it is:

 

Tallahassee, Fla. — Today, Governor Ron DeSantis announced the leadership and delegation for the Governor’s Business Development Mission to Israel, which takes place Saturday, May 25ththrough Friday, May 31st. Organized in conjunction with Enterprise Florida, Inc., the mission includes more than 90 delegation members and serves to strengthen the economic, academic and cultural bonds between Florida and Israel.

“This group of diverse Florida leaders will represent our state and nation proudly on this historic business development mission to Israel, the only democracy in the Middle East,” said Governor DeSantis. “Our delegation includes professionals and experts from a wide range of policy and business areas, representing every corner of our state. During this trip, we will affirm Florida as the most pro-Israel state in the nation and strengthen the bond between Florida and Israel for decades to come.”

Business Development Mission Leadership and Delegation

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Ron DeSantis and the Florida Cabinet tell citizens to screw themselves

Fallingcocofinc

Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Florida Cabinet are saying the Sunshine Law does not matter to them.
 
Sure visiting Israel is fine...but conducting a Cabinet meeting there is wrong and probably illegal. No Cabinet member should attend the meeting if they care about the rights of Florida citizens.
 
Here is the agenda for the meeting. 
 
MEETING OF THE GOVERNOR AND CABINET
May 29, 2019
United States Embassy – Jerusalem, Israel
INVOCATION
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
RESOLUTION – ISRAELI-FLORIDA RELATIONSHIP, Governor Ron DeSantis and the Florida Cabinet
PRESENTATION – VICTIMS OF TERROR
PRESENTATION – WATER QUALITY
PRESENTATION – EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
CLOSING, Governor Ron DeSantis
 
There is a nonsensical note at the bottom of this otherwise useless agenda that is silly and worthless: *This agenda does not involve the composition of any collegial body consisting of the Governor and Cabinet as a board, commission, or otherwise.
 
 
Please, Attorney General Ashley Moody, explain the legal foundation for this meeting. Tell us how it does not violate the Sunshine Law. Please explain what precedent it sets for future meeting not just of this body but of any governmental entity in the state.
 
 
Please, CFO Jimmy Patronis and Commissioner of Agriculture Nikki Fried, explain your justification for attending this meeting that clearly was not the intent of the Sunshine Law.

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