Scott Signs Off On Redistricting Plan
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (CBSMiami) – The next stop for the Legislature's once-a-decade redistricting plans will be a Tallahassee courtroom after Governor Rick Scott signed the plans Thursday afternoon.
Democrats filed a lawsuit in state court just after the Republican-controlled Legislature passed the bill on February 9.
Three groups supporting the Fair Districts anti-gerrymandering amendments approved in 2010 said they will also sue over the new districts.
Both groups claim the new map violates multiple parts of the amendments including a ban on intentionally favoring incumbents or political parties.
The Florida Supreme Court will also hear arguments over a separate legislative redistricting plan that the courts are also reviewing.
Florida's population growth over the last decade meant the state received two additional seats in the U.S. House of Representatives. Florida will have 27 representatives once new maps are adopted.
But the new maps are already having political fallout. Representative Allen West will not run for re-election in his current district because the new lines will have the district leaning Democrat.
West will instead run for a different seat in a more Republican-friendly area.
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