By Commissioner Fred Brummer

The United States Justice Department recently announced policy changes that expanded the ability for the Federal Bureau of Investigation to perform inquiries. The policy is not new but rather the reimplementation of a policy that was changed by President Gerald Ford.
The policy adds places that the FBI can gather information. Places that were added are locations that one might not relate to conspirators involved in planning crime. The policy was issued amidst the media criticism of the law enforcement agency for its failure to prevent the attacks of September 11.
So what’s my point? The public does not have anything to fear from a diligent, forthright law enforcement agency. Only the guilty need be more wary. Both of those preceding statements may be true and I certainly hope that they are true.
The public’s concern about safety has grown exponentially since the September tragedy. The need for safety does not compromise the individual’s protection afforded by the U.S. Constitution. The two principles, public safety and individual freedom, can operate in an imperfect world. It is important that we demand the highest standards for those people in government to whom we entrust our safety and our personal freedom.
As citizens, we must hold dearly all parts of our constitution. We must not ignore one section of the constitution because we feel it is not as important as another part. The Tenth Amendment right of individual States to control issues not ceded to the Federal government by a particular constitutional provision is just as important as the rest.
The prohibition of the government taking a person’s property without compensation is as important as the right to free speech or free press. There is no part of the constitution that is not important. There is no right that we can afford to sacrifice.
We must insist that those entrusted with responsibility perform. However, we must be willing to expend the effort to measure that performance. That effort is why we need to expand the Federal Public Information Act. The public must have the right to know what the government knows and how they acquire the information.
Florida’s Sunshine Laws pertaining to public records and public meetings are a good example for our Federal government to follow. Florida’s law enforcement agencies operate successfully in the most open government atmosphere in our nation. The application of the Florida example to the Federal model would take time; however, it is possible.
As citizens, we have a responsibility, as well as a right, to know what information our government gathers and how the information is used. We have a right to expect the highest levels of performance from our government employees no matter what their responsibility.

Fred Brummer is the county commissioner for Orange County, Fla., District 2.