Peter SchorschApril 9, 2019
7min553
Legislators and lobbyists are trying to dismantle the citizen initiative process
Tag: Fair DistrictsImage via AP.
Peter SchorschApril 9, 2019
Jim RosicaNovember 9, 2017
4min332
We’re just going to rip this line right from Thursday’s press release: “To get a head start on the next round of reapportionment in 2021, Florida House Democrats have formed a Working Group on Redistricting that will allow them to be fully prepared to present the citizens of our state with the fair maps they […]
Scott PowersSeptember 26, 2017
6min843
Declaring it is time for Florida to “modernize” it’s voting systems, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Chris King unveiled a policy statement Tuesday calling for universal voter registration and for voters to vote anywhere in their county. King, a Winter Park-based developer of affordable and senior housing, rolled out a seven-point voting and elections plan Tuesday to […]
Brendan FarringtonJune 25, 2017
7min207
Florida has more registered Democrats than Republicans, but the balance of power in government doesn’t even come close to reflecting that. Despite a 2010 constitutional amendment aimed at preventing political gerrymandering, Republicans dominate Florida politics. Democrats only hold 41 of 120 state House seats, 15 of 40 Senate seats and are outnumbered in in the […]
Associated PressNovember 7, 2016
7min339
Six years ago, Florida voters approved constitutional amendments with the catchy title of “Fair Districts” that promised to end the political games that surrounded drawing legislative and congressional districts. Due to expensive court battles and standoffs in the Florida Legislature, this year’s election will mark the first time the full effort to end gerrymandering will […]
Gary FineoutNovember 11, 20155min378
A long-running legal battle over Florida’s political landscape wound up back before the state Supreme Court on Tuesday where several justices sounded skeptical about the changes proposed by the Republican-controlled Legislature. The hope is that the court will soon end three years of lawsuits, court hearings and special sessions by finally endorsing a new map […]
Jim RosicaNovember 5, 2015
4min166
With a little more than a day left in the Special Session, lawmakers scrambled to come up with a redrawn Florida Senate district map that will pass court muster, but also get enough votes to pass out of the Legislature. Senators from both parties, however, didn’t like what they saw at a Thursday morning meeting, […]
Jim RosicaNovember 4, 2015
5min163
The Florida Senate on Wednesday agreed to go into conference to iron out the differences between its proposed map for new Senate districts and the House of Representatives’ proposal. That conference, however, will consist of only two people: Senate redistricting panel chair Bill Galvano, and his House counterpart, Jose Oliva. During the last Special Session, […]
Jim RosicaNovember 3, 2015
5min252
The Florida House of Representatives Tuesday passed its version of a redrawn state Senate district map, sending it back to the Senate for a likely conference process. The map was passed 73-47, with all Democrats in opposition and some Republicans joining them, including state Reps. Matt Gaetz, Chris Latvala and Ray Pilon. A long line […]
Jim RosicaNovember 3, 2015
1min216
Following their Senate colleagues, the House Democratic Caucus plans to vote against the proposed Senate district map. At a Democratic caucus meeting before Tuesday’s session, House Democratic Leader Mark Pafford informally asked the crowd whether any member intended to vote for the map. No one signaled they would. The version of the map the Senate […]