As a person who does lots of public requests, I can assure you that one of the things that makes the requests cost prohibitive is having them include useless documents and attachments. Here you can see it happening, they even have a name for it: a "Document Dump". For shame. Brian Burgess, who wrote the email suggesting the dump, besides being on Rick Scott's transition team, was the Republican Party of Florida communications director.
Christopher Kise (general council for Rick Scott's transition team) talks about transparency in the same breath he recommends the document dump. Some transparency, He concurs that they should bury the reporter in paperwork that she didn't ask for. What she asked for was very clear: emails. This is a rare look at the shit that goes on to thwart our access to information.
Also in the transition team's emails there was a reference to "FIX" what Scott said about blind trusts (a lie?):
Here is what they were upset about and needed to fix - -
BLIND TRUST
Scott To Announce Blind Trust For His Millions (Jim Ash, Pensacola News-Journal) Rick Scott, the richest man ever
elected Florida governor, is about to announce how he intends to put a respectable distance between the first public office he's ever held and the private fortune that fueled his rise to the top. Scott, who spent more than $70 million of his own money on his campaign, said last week that he will take a familiar route to assure Floridians that the decisions he makes as governor will not conflict with his private interests. Scott has vowed not to accept the $132,000 annual salary that comes with the job. "I (will) put all my interests in a blind trust. I wouldn't make any other decisions than I'd normally make as governor," Scott said.
7 comments:
Rick Scott and his staffers all seem like creeps.
The guys are dripping with sleazy ways. How we can expect better second time around with coverups and lying before they even began?
This attitude of the Governor and staff is an insult to the democratic process. On the one hand they talk of transparency while doing everything they can to hide and cover up information they are required to provide.
With regards to the blind trust, it is apparent that it is neither blind or a real trust.
Our governor seems to be using the same tactics as CEO of HCA, deceive and deny. At least he is consistent.
They are trying to cover up Scott's lie. There was no blind trust. Great way to start off. I am shocked at how they dodge simple straightforward questions from the press.
Their objective of throwing reporters off the track is despicable.
Rick Scott and his Lt. Governor that just resigned seem to be cut from the same cloth.
I love document dumps! These idiots who think they can bury me fail to realize how much I can glean from their trash heaps. Here's the basic procedure:
1. Scan everything not already provided in electronic form. The Fujitsu ScanSnap iX500 is a darling at this task.
2. Convert all scans to searchable PDFs using an OCR program - AcrobatPro works OK.
3. Rename files by reverse order date codes and a few key words, e.g. "2013-03-29 Eye-on-Miami comment.pdf" That puts the files in chronological order and helps with a quick search.
4. Speed-read and flag anything of interest, taking notes.
5. Read your notes and look for patterns and anomalies.
6. Go back and re-read those documents carefully that relate to what you found in step #5.
If you are dealing with a schnook, the re-organized dump will be a treasure trove. It helps if you know the state criminal codes.
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