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Indefensible was the word Attorney General Pam Bondi used today about a ten thousand dollar bill for a public records request made by a sitting member of the state Senate. The flap started after a newspaper was denied the records and State Senator Mike Fasano stepped in.

At the center of the dispute is a125 million dollar investment made by the state pension fund. The money went through an investment company . A company owned by a former client of the man now running the state’s investment operations.

State Senator Mike Fasano asked more than three dozen questions, seeking records of the transaction. What he got was an estimate: 10 thousand dollars to make the records public.

“I believe that not only I as a State Senator, but the people of the state of Florida should know how and why they decided to invest this $125 million dollars,” says Fasano.

The investments are overseen by the Governor and Cabinet. Attorney General Pam Bondi told SBA Executive Director Ash Williams “I’ve lost sleep over this bill. I think the amount of the bill is indefensible. The cost is very  troubling to me,” says Bondi.  “This estimate of 300 hours.”

CFO Jeff Atwater told investment manager Ash Williams to make the records available,If the Senator promises to keep them confidential, saying “This is about transparency”

Afterwards, Williams was guarding his words carefully, telling reporters “The size of the bill is simply a reflection of application of a normal process.”

But keeping the records confidential is not something the Senator is will ing to do. With both sides at a stalemate, Senator Fasano has sent a letter to the President of the Senate, saying subpoena the records.

No quick resolution is expected. The Senate President wants to talk with both sides before deciding whether to order the records be given over.  Another lawmakers, Rep. Paige Kreegel of Punta Gorda is also criticizing Williams and the State Board of Administration for being less than forthcoming with explanations in a failed 250 million dollar investment in a New York City apartment complex.