redistricting – Page 6 – SaintPetersBlog

Redistricting summons forces Tom Lee to cancel Polk Tiger Bay appearance

Published on September 25, 2015 in The Bay and the 'Burg/Top Headlines by Bill Rufty

Florida Senate Appropriations Chair Tom Lee missed his speaking engagement with the Polk County Tiger Bay Club on Thursday. The Brandon Republican had received a summons to Tallahassee, which Circuit Court Judge Terry Lewis wouldn’t allow him to postpone. He was a witness for the judge’s hearings to decide from perhaps as many as seven maps of redistricting for Florida’s congressional districts. Tiger Bay members had their own questions on redistricting on which they had hoped to hear answers from Lee, particularly…

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Fla. Supreme Court says it will have final word on redistricting

Published on September 4, 2015 in Statewide/Top Headlines by Jim Rosica

The Florida Supreme Court on Friday said it will have the last word on redrawing the state’s congressional district map. In a nine-page order, the court told Circuit Judge Terry Lewis to hear from all sides and “then make a recommendation to (this) Court … as to which map proposed by the parties – or which portions of each map – best fulfills the specific directions (of) the Court … and all constitutional requirements.” The justices made clear that its final decision on the map will be binding. “The Court notes that the judiciary…

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Redistricting hearing: Trial judge needs direction, Senate wants do-over

Published on August 25, 2015 in Statewide/Top Headlines by Jim Rosica

Hope sprang eternal in the Leon County Courthouse Tuesday, with the state Senate’s redistricting chair insisting there was still time for lawmakers to get together and come up with a new map for the state’s 27 congressional seats. Circuit Judge Terry Lewis held a brief hearing after the Florida Legislature couldn’t agree on new boundary lines despite convening a 2-week special session that ended last Friday. But Lewis sounded stymied by a lack of direction from the Florida Supreme Court.…

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Bill Day’s latest: Will Florida’s redistricting monster survive?

Published on August 19, 2015 in Statewide/Top Headlines by Phil Ammann

On Tuesday, the Republican-controlled Florida House approved a “base map” of new congressional districts by a 76-35 vote – setting the stage for yet another battle royale with the Senate. For their part, senators can expect to vote this week on a version of the map that appears vastly different from the House proposal. And so it goes in the Florida Legislature, as documented by political cartoonist Bill Day. The Florida Supreme Court ordered lawmakers back to work after finding…

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Must-read op-ed from Stafford Jones: Who is really doing the gerrymandering?

Published on August 17, 2015 in Statewide/Top Headlines by Guest Author

With the complexities involved over the redistricting cases winding their way through Florida courts, I shouldn’t be surprised how easily the Democrats are getting away with their misinformation campaign, and I really shouldn’t be surprised how willing the press is to repeat the Democratic talking points. Let’s review, first, what the constitutional amendments governed. The Fair Districts Amendments governed the intent and actions of the Legislature. They did not govern the intent or actions of citizens. They did not govern…

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Dean Cannon deserves some credit, too, for House’s redistricting success

Published on July 30, 2015 in Statewide/Top Headlines by Peter Schorsch

There’s little doubt that if there is any “winner” emerging from our long state nightmare, the case of the redistricting that just wouldn’t end, it is the Florida House. After all, as the Florida Supreme Court said back in 2012 — and as the memo announcing a third special session forcefully reaffirmed — the maps the House drew contained the only boundaries that got out of the dysfunctional 2011 process intact. House Speaker Will Weatherford even got the coveted plaudit of “shining…

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Florida Legislature will return to redraw Senate maps

Published on July 29, 2015 in Statewide/Top Headlines by Brendan Farrington

Legislative leaders announced Tuesday they will hold a special session to redraw the state’s 40 Senate districts after the chamber acknowledged it violated the state Constitution by creating maps that benefit Republicans and incumbents. The decision comes less than three weeks after the state Supreme Court threw out the congressional districts the GOP-dominated Legislature approved, saying those maps were drawn to favor Republicans. House Speaker Steve Crisafulli and Senate President Andy Gardiner said that ruling would have implications for the…

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Life and politics from the Sunshine State's best city

redistricting - page 6

Redistricting summons forces Tom Lee to cancel Polk Tiger Bay appearance

Fla. Supreme Court says it will have final word on redistricting

Redistricting hearing: Trial judge needs direction, Senate wants do-over

Bill Day’s latest: Will Florida’s redistricting monster survive?

Must-read op-ed from Stafford Jones: Who is really doing the gerrymandering?

Dean Cannon deserves some credit, too, for House’s redistricting success

Florida Legislature will return to redraw Senate maps

redistricting - page 6

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