We knew some politicians were against the redistricting amendments that Florida voters approved in November. We knew state Sen. Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, contributed money toward a lawsuit to fight the amendments before the election. But until last week we didn?t know how desperate certain state officials STILL are to have the amendments blocked, broken and buried.
What we are witnessing is, as the League of Women Voters of Florida put it, ?a clear movement by leadership to shut down the majority voice of the people.?
That majority voice supported Amendments 5 and 6 on the Nov. 2 ballot. Under Amendment 5, the Florida Constitution would be changed to require that legislative districts be roughly equal in population, follow existing political or geographic boundaries wherever possible, and not favor any incumbent or party. Amendment 6 would do the same for congressional districts.
More than 60 percent of voters endorsed those reforms. But a lot of politicians didn?t. Republicans, especially, griped that the Fair Districts amendments wouldn?t be fair to the GOP.
This is what happened last week:
It was revealed that Gov. Rick Scott had quietly pulled back a request for federal approval of the amendments. (The Justice Department must review changes in election laws to ensure they?re not discriminatory.) A Scott spokesman said the request will be resubmitted. Sometime.
The Florida House leadership asked to join a lawsuit that seeks to overturn Amendment 6, the one on congressional redistricting. The suit was filed by U.S. Reps. Corrine Brown, D-Jacksonville, and Mario Diaz-Balart, R-Miami.
The lawsuit maneuvering gives the opposition to Fair Districts a bipartisan flavor, but that doesn?t make it any easier to swallow.
Politicians who panic at the prospect of losing their power bases to redistricting, and who want to use gerrymandered districts to hand-pick the voters who are supposed to pick THEM, are all too eager to ignore the wishes of Florida?s electorate. And, worse, to use taxpayers? money fighting those wishes.
Shameful.
Better pay attention everyone--these people are not working on behalf of the people of Florida IMO. they are only interested in keeping their "seat at the table". If you are appalled at this, then it's time to contact your representatives and make your voice heard...if you think it's okay to ignore the will of the people, then do nothing.
