Although the House has thus far rejected any changes to the “base map” for the congressional redistricting, House Speaker Steve Crisafulli, R-Merritt Island, said the Senate proposal would be considered once it is voted out by that chamber.
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In the Senate, lawmakers are no less upset with the Supreme Court, and they don’t like the base map either.
Lower parts of Leon and Jefferson counties will be a newly configured District 2 that wraps around the Big Bend from Panama City to the outskirts of Ocala, under the pending plans. The court, which issued a stinging ruling that maintained legislators had allowed the process to be tainted by partisan operatives, also dictated how a handful of districts should be drawn.
Several House Republicans blasted justices for “overstepping their bounds” in rejecting the Legislature’s second attempt at crafting 27 district lines.
The House is set to vote on that map today.
After Montford withdrew his North Florida amendment, the Senate Committee adopted an amendment by Sen.
Sen. Bill Galvano, R-Bradenton, the committee chairman said it might not be necessary to have a joint conference committee to compromise conflicting plans. Instead, the court ordered an east-west configuration for that district, which would run from Tallahassee to Jacksonville in the maps passed Tuesday by the House.
But Rep. Jose Rodriguez, D-Miami, said lawmakers had no one to blame but themselves as they enter the final scheduled days of a 12-day special session.
The Florida House of Representatives approved the original proposed base map on Monday. “The outrage expressed by some in this room I find quite laughable actually”. “The U.S. and Florida constitutions have been assaulted”, Hill said.
State Rep. Katie Edwards, D-Plantation, saved her ire for the political operatives the Supreme Court found had corrupted the process. But they also said they are likely to keep the map in compliance with that order, while expecting Brown and others to challenge the new map as a violation of minority voting rights in federal court. “But we didn’t do everything the Supreme Court asked, in my opinion”.
“There is a map, which I believe gives us the best chance to pass constitutional muster and at least for us to do our job and our duty”, said Rep. Charles McBurney, R-Jacksonville, “regardless of whether we feel the Supreme Court did theirs”.
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During debate, Democratic members of the House quizzed Oliva about the base map and how it was produced, asking whether it included any intent to favor incumbents or one party over another.
