Lawmakers Convene Special Session On Redistricting
TALLAHASSEE (CBSMiami/AP) – Five days after wrapping up their second session, lawmakers are back in Tallahassee to take a second shot a legislative redistricting.
Lawmakers on Wednesday begin a special session on the matter because the Florida Supreme Court invalidated the Senate map. The justices, though, upheld the House plan.
Both chambers must convene, but the action will be in the Senate.
House leaders have agreed to defer to the Senate as they did when the maps initially were drawn during the regular session.
The justices found the Senate map violated a new anti-gerrymandering amendment to the state constitution.
That's because it favored incumbents and Republicans, included districts that weren't compact and failed to follow political and geographic boundaries whenever possible.
Lawmakers plan to send a revised Senate map to the justices by the end of next week.
