The Florida Senate voted 28-8 on Wednesday to approve a map that would make dramatic shifts to numerous state’s 27 congressional districts.
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Oliva said the way the Senate map favored Hillsborough at the expense of parts of central Florida ensured that the court would rule those lines unconstitutional.
Senate Redistricting Chairman Bill Galvano, R-Bradenton, abruptly exited a short meeting with House counterpart Jose Oliva, R-Miami, after repeating his side’s offer to extend the 12-day session lurching to a finish and organize a conference committee to begin formal negotiations on a map. Both chambers refused to budge off their congressional maps, which included differences over whether to split Sarasota County, reshaping districts in Hillsborough and Orange counties and the issue of whether Congressional District 15 would include the home of incumbent U.S. Rep. Dennis Ross, R-Lakeland.
The breakdown in Tallahassee over congressional maps is a preview of what may be another dysfunctional special session of the legislature set for October. So a new map was developed in time for the 2014 election. But House Speaker Steve Crisafulli, R-Merritt Island, said he did not see any reason for lawmakers to return to Tallahassee and the House is ready to defend its plan in the courts.
This failure from this legislature is also its second failed session of the year.
But although Florida’s House and Senate are both controlled by Republicans, the two bodies were unable to come to an agreement. Its regular session, held in March and April, didn’t produce a state budget, which is the only requirement the state constitution gives to legislators for an annual session. That process is expected to be even more bloody than the congressional districts, as state senators will be fighting for their own political lives.
The Supreme Court ruled in July that the current districts don’t meet a voter-approved constitutional amendment that requires districts be compact and not drawn to benefit a political party or incumbents. I am extremely proud of the manner by which the House conducted itself during Special Session, and I again wish to commend Chair Oliva for his outstanding service.
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“It was the push and the pull”, said Rep. Darryl Ervin Rouson, D-St. “I mean, it’s the summer of ineptitude at this point”.
