AG Bondi: Public Should Be Allowed To Speak At Public Meetings

March 15, 2011

Attorney General Pam Bondi said Tuesday she supports legislation (SB 310, HB 285) that would require the public to be allowed to testify at public meetings.

The bills, sponsored by Sen. Joe Negron, R-Stuart in the Senate and Rep. Eric Eisnaugle, R-Orlando, in the House, say public meetings must provide an “opportunity for members of the public to be heard.”

It does permit a board or commission to limit a speaker’s time and require that a spokesperson be appointed to speak for large groups. There are occasions when people travel hundreds of miles to speak at a committee or Cabinet meetings only to have time run out before their chance to speak.

The measure was spurred, however, primarily by local governments, which on a few occasions have refused to let people speak, saying that they were disruptive. Bondi said at a First Amendment Foundation luncheon Tuesday that she supports the idea of everyone having a chance to speak at public meetings.

The bill has yet to be heard in any House or Senate committees.

Comments

3 Responses to “AG Bondi: Public Should Be Allowed To Speak At Public Meetings”

  1. pamela on March 22nd, 2011 12:15 pm

    The citizens are taxpayers. Their voices need to be heard just like their officials, and not extinguished. Our citizens need to be seen on television engaged with their officials, that is what democracy is all about. Good people; when you remove the citizen’s from the televised public meeting, it shows suppression, control and censorship. The people are the government, and our officials work for us.

  2. Jack on March 16th, 2011 10:01 am

    The public should be seen and not heard. (Sarcasm)

  3. get em on March 16th, 2011 9:30 am

    They are disruptive at times I’m sure and then sometimes it’s just not
    what the committee wants to hear or choose. We pay for the committees
    so it’s time they take the time and listen to us.

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