the 'pancake' e-mails - Florida

[ensho]

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/state/crist-defends-dot-secretary-after-cfo-sink-calls-120753.html


Crist defends DOT secretary after CFO Sink calls for resignation over 'pancake' e-mails


The use of breakfast-related code words by the state's top transportation officials in the subject lines of e-mails dealing with rail legislation has provoked outcry among two candidates for governor, public records advocates and a tax watchdog group.

Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink and the head of the Ax the Tax group called Monday for the resignation of Florida Department of Transportation Secretary Stephanie Kopelousos and her deputy, Kevin Thibault, after The Palm Beach Post reported they had exchanged three messages with the subject lines of "pancake," "pancakes" and "french toast" last month.

The e-mails had nothing to do with breakfast: Attached to them were documents regarding a rail bill that lawmakers would later approve during a special session.

Sen. Paula Dockery, R-Lakeland, said the e-mails went "against transparency and open government" and urged Gov. Charlie Crist to veto the bill for that reason. It was Dockery's public records request that led to the exposure of the e-mails, which showed that the DOT officials actively consulted CSX Inc. in crafting the legislation that could pay the transportation giant at least $432 million.

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The e-mails were obtained by Dockery, who is seeking the GOP nomination for governor. A longtime opponent of the CSX deal, she made a request on Nov. 25 for any records sent or received by Kopelousos, Thibault and DOT general counsel Alexis Yarborough since March 1 with the search terms "rail," "CSX" or "liability."

On Dec. 3, the day the special session started, agency officials gave Dockery 121 items they said matched her search but none from Kopelousos, although Dockery's aide had sent Kopelousos two messages during that time period. The next day, Dockery's aide complained to Crist's Office of Open Government that the e-mails apparently had not been retained.

Last week, after the bill passed, a DOT attorney wrote to Dockery that the initial search was incomplete because of a human error, and a new search turned up more than 8,000 e-mails.

"The top leadership of the Florida Department of Transportation is out of control," said Dockery, who updated her request Monday to include all similar records since Nov. 25. "There's a lot of secrecy here. There are a lot of backroom deals here."
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that's what repugs do - CHEAT

more power for Dockery

[SpiralHawk]

1. Freaking Republicon flip-floping Wafflers Against America

Ptooey on republicon family pancake values.