Jim Rosica
Florida Senate President Andy Gardiner has asked for a public meeting with House Speaker Steve Crisafulli and the chairs of the two chambers’ redistricting panels to discuss a solution to the state’s congressional districting morass.
Gardiner, an Orlando Republican, sent a letter to Crisafulli, a Merritt Island Republican, on Friday afternoon.
Gardiner noted state Sen. Bill Galvano‘s offer of compromise earlier this week with yet another map that puts the southern flank of eastern Hillsborough County back into the 16th Congressional District, now held by Republican U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan.
Previously, the Senate backed a map by state Sen. Tom Lee that put all of eastern Hillsborough into the 15th District, now held by Republican Dennis Ross. It also drew Ross out of his district, putting Ross’ residence across the street from the new boundary line.
House leaders said that Senate map almost certainly would be ruled unconstitutional because it favors Hillsborough at the expense of portions of central Florida.
Relations between the two GOP-controlled chambers have been strained since the Regular Legislative Session, which ended without a 2015-2016 state budget because of disagreements on Medicaid expansion and funding for hospitals’ charity care. Lawmakers had to return in a Special Session to finish the yearly spending plan.
This month, Galvano stormed out of a meeting between him and Oliva near the end of the Special Session on Redistricting when the House wouldn’t consider the Senate’s map.
When asked earlier this week whether he regretted that move, Galvano said, “No.”
“What occurred was, a (constitutionality) issue was raised at the end of a 2-week Special Session, two hours before it was to close,” he said. “I had pressed to have a fleshing out of that issue (but) it became apparent to me that our meeting was not productive.”
Gardiner’s letter comes as a white flag as time runs out to get a map done; candidate qualifying for congressional office is set for June 20-24, according to the state’s elections website.
“I respectfully request a public meeting with you and your Redistricting Chair, Representative Oliva, and Chair Galvano and me at your earliest convenience to discuss this proposal, the base map as last amended by the House, the possibility of reaching a compromise, and the logistics of enacting a congressional map in a timely manner,” Gardiner wrote.
A response from Crisafulli’s office was not immediately forthcoming.
