The Florida Senate Tuesday took up one of the legislature’s must pass bills. James Call reports, Senators are in the midst of at least two days of debate on redistricting, the once in a decade task of drawing new congressional and state house districts.
Florida’s political boundaries are changing because of an increase in population. Florida grew by almost three million people between 2000 and 2010. That gives the state two more congressional seats. Destin Senator Don Gaetz is leading the Senate in creating a new political map. He spent more than an hour on the senate Florida Tuesday explaining how he and the redistricting committee tackled the job. Gaetz held 26 town hall meetings from Pensacola to Key West. He says more than 180 Panhandle citizens spoke at public hearings in Northwest Florida.
“Before traveling to northeast Florida for our next meeting the committee sent 1,000 more invitations to participate to school board members, supervisors of elections, city and county officials members of advocacy groups left and right and members of both political parties. Come to the hearings, bring your proposal and suggestions criticism and ideas. On Monday, July 11th, 350 people filled out attendance cards at our Jacksonville hearing more than 100 testified.”
The House and Senate agreed to let each other draw the lines for their respective chamber. The Senate plans to send its redistricting proposal to the House this week, the House will add the map for House districts and then send the complete bill back to the Senate. The House is expected to act in two weeks.
The new districts must meet guidelines set forth in two constitutional amendments approved by voters. They require the districts to be compact and not favor any candidate or party. Delray Beach Senator Maria Sachs says she and fellow Democrats are split over the Senate proposal, Sachs says the courts will decided whether lawmakers followed the dictates of the Fair Districts amendments..
“It’s going to end up in the courts and that is probably where it should be. This is a good thing, get it out of the way in the send week and let’s get down to the people’s business. This is more of a political thing anyway, these maps. So I’m anxious to move it on.”
This year’s session started in January to accommodate an expected court fight. It is hoped the early start will leave enough time for lawmakers to address any concerns expressed by the court. The August primary will be the first election conducted under the new maps.