Judge blocks Florida GOP Legislature's poison pill redistricting amendment from November ballot

[seafan]

A judge just slapped down these bastards.



Marc Caputo and Lee Logan at The St. Petersburg Times report:


July 9, 2010

TALLAHASSEE — A judge on Thursday struck down the Legislature's proposed constitutional amendment concerning political districts because, he said, it is too confusing for voters to understand.
Amendment 7 was drafted by the Republican-led Legislature in response to two other proposed amendments that a liberal-leaning citizen group placed on the ballot. Those amendments, 5 and 6, would make it tougher for lawmakers to draw political districts that favor a political party or an incumbent.

But the Legislature's proposal — which lawmakers said would "clarify" the amendments of the Fair Districts Florida group — created far more confusion, Tallahassee Circuit Judge James Shelfer said in a ruling from the bench.
"I can hardly think that the average voter going in the voting booth would be able to make an informed decision," Shelfer said. "It took me three days — in reading all of these cases, reading all of these briefings, hearing all of your arguments — to get a handle on what this amendment did and its effect on the existing laws and the Constitution."

.....

One paragraph from Amendment 7 stood out as being particularly complicated. It says "the state shall take into consideration the ability of racial and language minorities to participate in the political process and elect candidates of their choice, and communities of common interest other than political parties may be respected and promoted, both without subordination to any other provision of this article."

Shelfer also said the amendment as written could wipe out a state constitutional provision that says districts must be "contiguous" — that is, all the voters in a district must live in communities touching to one another.

.....

Critics of Florida's system point out that Republicans control almost two-thirds of the Legislature and three-fifths of U.S. House seats, but registered Republicans are about 36 percent of the electorate.

.....

Future Senate President Mike Haridopolos held months of hearings this spring to poke holes in the Fair Districts proposals and pushed his rival amendment in the waning days of the legislative session. He persuaded state Sen. Gary Siplin, an Orlando Democrat and leader of the black caucus, to sponsor the amendment.
Both Haridopolos and Siplin repeatedly said Amendment 7 just "clarifies" Amendments 5 and 6. Haridopolos said he was perplexed by the judge's ruling.

.....

"I don't think they're confusing at all," (Governor Crist) said Thursday. "They call for fair districts, fair representation. That's the right thing to do for the people of our state."

.....

The history:


(Florida Republican) Legislature considers a 'poison pill' to nullify citizen petitions, April 15, 2010



Amendment 7 is a sneaky attempt to trick Florida voters, May 27, 2010

Here are the Tampa Bay legislators who voted to put Amendment 7 on the ballot:

Sens. Victor Crist, R-Tampa; Mike Fasano, R-New Port Richey; Dennis Jones, R-Treasure Island; Ronda Storms, R-Brandon.

Reps. Kevin Ambler, R-Tampa; Tom Anderson, R-Dunedin; Rachel Burgin, R-Tampa; Faye Culp, R-Tampa; Jim Frishe, R-Belleair Bluffs; Bill Galvano, R-Bradenton; Rich Glorioso, R-Plant City; Ed Homan, R-Tampa; Ed Hooper, R-Clearwater; John Legg, R-New Port Richey; Peter Nehr, R-Tarpon Springs; Ron Reagan, R-Bradenton; Darryl Rouson, D-St. Petersburg; Rob Schenck, R-Spring Hill; Will Weatherford, R-Wesley Chapel.


Voting against putting Amendment 7 on the ballot:

Sens. Paula Dockery, R-Lakeland; Arthenia Joyner, D-Tampa; Charlie Justice, D-St. Petersburg.

Reps. Janet Cruz, D-Tampa; Bill Heller, D-St. Petersburg; Rick Kriseman, D-St. Petersburg; Janet Long, D-Seminole; Betty Reed, D-Tampa; Ron Schultz, R-Homosassa.

Remember this statistic:

Republicans control almost two-thirds of the Legislature and three-fifths of U.S. House seats, but registered Republicans are about 36 percent of the electorate.

The Florida Senate has been controlled by Republicans since 1994. The House has been controlled by Republicans since 1996.

"Although I view our involvement as an action of last resort, it's very clear Al Gore and the Democrats are putting political pressure on us not to act, and that would be wrong. If we don't act, and stand by the 25 electors certified by Katherine Harris, then our electoral votes-and, with them, the 6 million votes cast by Floridians-will not be counted in the Electoral College. And Al Gore will be successful."

That's what just-elected State Rep. Jeff Kottkamp of Lee County told us last week, as the eyes of the nation focused on him and his fellow Republicans in the Florida state legislature. Along with other conservative GOP lawmakers, the 40-year-old Kottkamp-who characterizes himself a "Ronald Reagan-Connie Mack-Jeb Bush Republican"-is urging House Speaker.Tom Feeney (R.) to quickly offer a joint resolution calling on the legislature on December 12 to officially back the 25 Republican electors.

Several sources in Tallahassee told us the measure was certain to pass and that Feeney and the legislators would stand by the GOP electors, regardless of what the state Supreme Court eventually rules.

That Kottkamp guy who said those things around December 8, 2000 is our current Lieutenant Governor.





Tallahassee needs a good fumigation.




(bold type added)

[DirkGently]

1. Florida Republicans trying to trick people? Pshaw!

Do they do anything else here?

Good post.

:)