By Lynn Hatter
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wfsu/local-wfsu-973577.mp3
Tallahassee, FL – A coalition of groups backing the state's redistricting amendments say the legislature is stalling in an attempt to protect incumbents. Lynn Hatter reports, The Florida League of Women Voters, NAACP and Democracia, have written a letter to lawmakers urging to them to speed up the process and lift what they say is a gag-order that prevents lawmakers from speaking at public meetings.
The groups are part of the Fair Districts coalition and they say the legislature's planned 26 public hearings along with not producing a map until next March will cause chaos in the upcoming election cycle. Diedre McNabb is the president of the non-partisan Florida League of Women Voters. She says legal challenges could push a final implementation date into next June- a month before the primaries.
"And that's something this state can ill afford. Voters lose when potential candidates cannot file. If people don't know what district they're in, how can they put together a reasonable force?"
Fair Districts says lawmakers have been told not to speak during the public meetings but House spokeswoman Katie Gordon Betta the meetings are meant to hear from constituents, not lawmakers. She also says the timeline the legislature is on is in the Florida Constitution.