Lawmakers Return To Capitol To Try Again On Congressional Districts
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TALLAHASSEE (CBSMiami/NSF) – Lawmakers returned to the Capitol Monday to once again draw a map for each of Florida's 27 congressional seats.
It is a drama being watched in Tallahassee and Washington, D.C., as shifting lines just a few miles in one direction or another could decide the futures of several members of the state's U.S. House delegation.
The session follows a July 9 ruling by the Florida Supreme Court that the state's existing congressional map violates one of the two anti-gerrymandering "Fair Districts" amendments approved by voters in 2010. Lawmakers drew the initial lines during the once-a-decade redistricting process in 2012, then tweaked them last year after Leon County Circuit Judge Terry Lewis said Republican political operatives had managed to improperly influence the process.
But the Supreme Court --- which has a relatively liberal majority and has generally but not always ruled against the GOP-controlled Legislature in redistricting cases --- said Lewis' ruling didn't go far enough and that at least eight of the districts should be redrawn.
The rulings led lawmakers to agree to also redraw the state Senate map --- another special session for that purpose is scheduled in October --- and has also led some Republicans to question the justices' decision.
Nineteen House members received excused absences for Monday's opening day of a special legislative session to redraw congressional districts.
Those expected to miss the mostly procedural first day were Rep. Doug Broxson, R-Gulf Breeze; Rep. Bill Hager, R-Delray Beach; Rep. Shawn Harrison, R-Tampa; Rep. Mike Hill, R-Pensacola Beach; Rep. Jeanette Nunez, R-Miami; Rep. Marlene O'Toole, R-Lady Lake; Rep. Rene "Coach P" Plasencia, R-Orlando; Rep. Cary Pigman, R-Avon Park; Rep. Ray Pilon, R-Sarasota; Rep. Patrick Rooney, R-West Palm Beach; Rep. David Santiago, R-Deltona; Rep. Ross Spano, R-Dover; Rep. Chris Sprowls, R-Palm Harbor; Rep. Jennifer Sullivan, R-Mount Dora; Rep. John Tobia, R-Melbourne Beach; Rep. Charles Van Zant, R-Keystone Heights; Rep. John Wood, R-Winter Haven; Rep. Joe Geller, D-Aventura; and Rep. Dave Kerner, D-Lake Worth.
Most advised House Speaker Steve Crisafulli, R-Merritt Island, that they will arrive a day or two late due to work or because they are returning from preplanned vacations. Harrison wrote that he will be out through Wednesday attending the burial of his father at Arlington National Cemetery.
Pigman, a physician, noted that he has emergency-department shifts throughout the next two weeks but will be in Tallahassee on days he's not scheduled to work.
Wood's legislative aide noted that the representative became ill over the weekend and that he doesn't believe he will be able to attend the session.
Nunez will be out all week for work.
Pilon said he will also be out all week combining a preplanned vacation with business meetings.
Van Zant has a number of town-hall meetings in his district, which will also require him to be out Aug. 17.
Ten senators also asked for excused absences.
"The News Service of Florida's Brandon Larrabee contributed to this report."