SENATE SESSION, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2015
CONVENED: The Senate convened at 4 p.m., President Andy Gardiner, R-Orlando, presiding.
PRAYER: Sen. Kelli Stargel, R-Lakeland, led the opening prayer.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND A MOMENT OF SILENCE FOLLOWED
CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REPORT:
--- SJR 2-C, the Senate redistricting plan. Senators were asked to adopt the conference committee amendment (351550).
Reapportionment Chairman Bill Galvano, R-Bradenton, said the conference report was the substance of a map the Senate considered on the floor Wednesday. The map was proposed by the House.
Sen. John Legg, R-Trinity, said the conference committee included questions about counties he represents, including Pasco County. He asked about House proposals in the Tampa Bay area. Galvano answered questions and also indicated frustration with trying to draw a constitutionally compliant map.
"This is the most ambiguous discipline that I've ever encountered,'' Galvano said.
Sen. Maria Sachs, D-Delray Beach, asked questions about the House's proposed configuration of districts in Palm Beach County. Sen. Anitere Flores, R-Miami, asked about South Florida districts and whether House attorneys would represent the Legislature if the map passed.
Galvano answered questions about Palm Beach County and South Florida. He said attorneys from the House and Senate would be involved in court proceedings if the map passed.
Sen. Miguel Diaz de la Portilla, R-Miami, asked a series of questions. "The map we have before us today is exactly the same map we refused to concur with yesterday, right?" he asked. Galvano said it was the same map, which he said he wanted to vet further Wednesday.
Sen. Darren Soto, D-Orlando, asked whether any other maps would be presented by the Legislature in court. Galvano said any map that passed would be the "Legislature's map."
Sen. Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, suggested that lawmakers found themselves in a "geometric exercise" that didn't take into account the effects on communities, neighborhoods and people. Galvano said he thinks the process has "pulled the soul out of map-making."
The Senate then moved into debate.
Sen. Rene Garcia, R-Hialeah, said he opposed the proposal because of its effects on Hispanic districts in Miami-Dade County. He said the proposals would "diminish" the voice of Hispanic voters. "How can I, Sen. Rene Garcia, go back home to Miami-Dade County and forget about my constituency?'' he said.
Sen. Nancy Detert, R-Venice, said it's hard for Republicans to vote against leadership, but she opposed the map. "I can't even go home and explain to my community how this happened and why this happened,'' she said.
Sen. Greg Evers, R-Baker, said the map would split areas in his Northwest Florida district and is unconstitutional. "I'm sorry to oppose the bill, but it's what I've got to do today,'' Evers said.
Sen. Alan Hays, R-Umatilla, said he had not heard discussion about good points of the map. "Today is a sad day for the people of Florida," Hays said. He said Galvano had made a Herculean effort but the "Fair Districts" constitutional amendments tied Galvano's hands.
Sachs said lawmakers had an opportunity to draw lines that reflect the emerging demographics of the state. She said they needed to make sure the lines that are drawn represent the people.
Sen. Joseph Abruzzo, D-Boynton Beach, also addressed Palm Beach County issues and said he would not support the proposed map. "It is not what Florida looks like,'' Abruzzo said. "It is not indicative of our communities."
Sen. Gwen Margolis, D-Miami, said she has represented the same district in different elected positions for 40 years. She said the proposed map would force her to move.
Sen. Aaron Beach, R-Fernandina Beach, said Galvano had worked "masterfully" in the process. He asked senators to reconsider voting against the plan and said the Legislature should not punt redistricting to the courts. "Rethink your no vote,'' he said.
Stargel said she is "not willing to say we can't do this job." She asked senators to vote for the map.
Sen. Rob Bradley, R-Fleming Island, said he sees through the process that "all politics is local." But he said giving up the "power to redistrict" was what's at stake for the Legislature. He said the alternative would be handing over the issue to the Supreme Court. "We have a job to do,'' he said. Bradley also said the proposed map complied with constitutional requirements.
Gaetz said the map was "not only not perfect, it has many, many, many flaws." But he said voting against the plan would put it into the hands of people who won't draw it better. He said Galvano had been put in an impossible situation. Gaetz said he couldn't "abrogate" his responsibility and not support the map. "I with a heavy heart will vote yes,'' he said.
Flores said lawmakers gave their job to staff members, who came up with six proposed maps. The proposed House map also included input from voting-rights groups that led a legal fight against current Senate districts. She said the Senate faced passing a map that didn't have input from lawmakers. She also called the map a "flawed" product. She said Miami-Dade voters have asked lawmakers to be their "voice" and to represent their diversity. "We can't sit here and say, 'Listen, just to go along to get along, we're going to vote for this map,' '' she said. Flores said she expected every minority in the Senate to vote against the map.
Galvano gave closing remarks. He said he agreed with many of the arguments about representing communities. But he said "unfortunately, that's not the world we're in" with the Fair Districts standards. He said lawmakers have to take into account the constitutional amendment and court rulings. He said the plaintiffs in the legal fight will wind up drawing the map.
Senators voted 23-16 to reject the conference report.
Gardiner thanked Galvano
ADJOURNMENT: After a motion from Rules Chairman David Simmons, R-Altamonte Springs, the Senate adjourned at 5:43 p.m.
Source: The News Service of Florida
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