Amid an ugly political brawl, the Florida Senate on Wednesday narrowly approved a new map for the state’s 40 senate districts that takes one lawmaker from the Treasure Coast and appears to benefit Stuart Sen. Jack Latvala, R-Clearwater, who voted no. A coalition of groups, including the League of Women Voters of Florida, filed a lawsuit contending the existing state senate districts violated those standards.
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The Senate simply couldn’t justify by anything other than politics for a few of the changes made, he said, such as splitting Alachua County in half or amending the map in a manner that would protect a Republican senator in Miami. It separates him from the same district he was drawn into with Sen. Anitere Flores, a Republican, and Sen.
But Diaz de la Portilla said voter turnout figures cast doubt on whether all three seats would actually perform for candidates favored by Latinos. And it puts Sen.
The district with Diaz de la Portilla would also include his brother, former Sen.
“I was pleasantly surprised when of the 16 amendments only one amendment got on”, he told the Herald/Times.
But 14 Democrats sided with four Republicans considered Latvala’s allies in opposition to the new map. Alan Hays, R-Umatilla, took exception to Gaetz’s words.
After a tense debate over the map, emotions spilled into view as Sen. Galvano has claimed that a “sterile” environment shielded staff from politicians and public input and map drawers sought advice only from staff attorneys.
“When a bully throws a sucker punch, you hit back and never give in”, Gaetz said. He emphasized the importance of a House and Senate agreement on a joint map before it heads to court.
Gaetz is backing Negron for the Senate presidency.
Senate Democrats said they’re being shut out of the process.
The comments did not sit well with Gaetz, a former Senate president. A lawyer representing the coalition of groups that sued lawmakers sent a letter this week to legislative leaders contending the Senate map violated the “Fair Districts” amendment.
Galvano said if there are differences with the House they could be worked out in a conference committee next week.
Senate bill would overhaul Florida’s foster-care placements to child-centered approach – A bill aimed at reducing instability for foster children has started to move forward in the Florida Senate and would require the child-welfare system to match kids with their best placement options – rather than, as critics charge, the first beds that are handy.
The change, the plaintiffs alleged, was an example of the intent to favor a political party or incumbent. “Senator Latvala should be sorry for his”.
Gaetz asserted that Latvala also had a role in the Senate map that came under fire. He insisted that the change was needed even though the initial Senate map included three Miami-Dade districts with a majority of Hispanic voters.
“These are hard days” Senate President Andy Gardiner told fellow Senators before gaveling the Senate to recess.
But it was too much for Sen.
“I think it is beneath the dignity of this institution when one members stands on this floor and calls a member a bully”, he said. Latvala, who was preparing for an event elsewhere in the state, had left the chamber before Gaetz’s remarks began.
“It seems now Sen”.
“Take a secret-ballot vote on who’s the biggest bully — me or him”, he responded.
Term-limited Sen. Jeremy Ring, D-Margate, who has served as a committee chair in the GOP-controlled Senate said the process has become bogged down in partisanship.
“The only people that won’t be happy with this map are the people who live in my district”, she said. “If my political activity is undoing his political activity then so be it”.
The exchange discouraged many in the Senate. Tom Lee, a Brandon Republican. “I’m focused on trying to get this map done and going home”. In July, the Florida Supreme Court ruled state lawmakers would have to go back to the drawing board and create new congressional maps and Senate maps. He told the Times/Herald Tuesday that he believed the redistricting drama that had marred the Senate map would be played out in court and he would be a willing witness for the plaintiffs. “I’ve said plenty. My views haven’t changed”.
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“Emotions obviously are running pretty high”, he said.
