The Florida legislature has granted Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R) the chance to provide a draft of the redistricting map, which has angered Democrats statewide. Both the House and the Senate released a joint memorandum, which informed that the governor’s office will provide congress a map.
The announcement was made by both House Speaker Chris Sprowls (R) and Senate President Wilton Simpson (R), and it comes two weeks after the Governor vetoed a map that had already been approved by the Legislature.
Next Tuesday, a special session is scheduled to start, and the Republican-led legislature will be reviewing a congressional map provided by the Governor.
In response to the announcement, Democrats are chiding both the Governor and the GOP for the decision.
Florida Rep. Charlie Crist (D), who’s challenging DeSantis for the Governorship, commented that “DeSantis is prioritizing his national ambitions by trying to eliminate protected congressional districts & silencing the voices of minority voters.” Crist added that “the GOP Legislature should uphold their duty to conduct a fair redistricting and stop kowtowing to Ron’s personal political agenda.”
DeSantis is prioritizing his national ambitions by trying to eliminate protected congressional districts & silencing the voices of minority voters.
The GOP Legislature should uphold their duty to conduct a fair redistricting and stop kowtowing to Ron’s personal political agenda.
— Charlie Crist (@CharlieCrist) April 12, 2022
The state lawmakers provided a memo regarding the decision, saying that their "intention is to provide the governor's office opportunities to present that information before House and Senate redistricting committees."
Florida Rep. Anna Eskamani (D), who's vocally opposed DeSantis, questioned "whatever happened to the separation of powers?"
"The fact that the Florida Legislature is just bending over backward to do what the governor wants. I mean, why are we elected?" she further questioned, adding that "at this point, we might as well give the governor a pen and paper and he will just redraw the map himself."
Although DeSantis has been granted this opportunity, he has not commented on the decision from the Florida Legislature.
Eskamani also propositioned that "we need a redo of Schoolhouse Rock's three branches of government since checks & balances don't seem to exist in Florida anymore."
Sounds like we need a redo of Schoolhouse Rock's three branches of government since checks & balances don't seem to exist in Florida anymore. https://t.co/0NHyW8GD78
— Rep. Anna V. Eskamani 🔨 (@AnnaForFlorida) April 11, 2022
