Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) couldn’t have made his message clearer: “I will veto the congressional reapportionment plan currently being debated by the House. DOA,” he wrote in a Tweet delivered just minutes after Legislators began Final Debate Friday.
But his Message didn’t matter. The House Voted 67-47 to Approve SB 102 and shortly after, the Senate followed and Voted to Approve the Plan 24-15, along Party Lines.
If the Governor Vetoes the Bill, he can call Lawmakers back in a Special Session to come up with a New Map.
If Legislators Refuse to revise their approach, they can try to find enough Support, from Republicans, as well as, House and Senate Democrats, to Override a Veto.
There are 78 Republicans in the House, and 80 Votes are needed to Override a Veto. There are 24 Republicans in the Senate and 26 Votes are needed for an Override….
Democrats warned that the Maps display an Unconstitutional Gerrymander because they were drawn to intentionally favor Republicans, in Violation of the Fair District Provisions of the Florida Constitution.
Republicans said it’s a Constitutional Alternative that was designed to address the concerns raised by the Governor.
“We believe these maps to be constitutionally valid,” Senate Appropriations Committee Chairperson Ray Rodrigues (R-27th District, Estero), told the Senate. “By moving closer to our position, they have left us in a position where we now preserved minority access seats and can say that this is indeed a constitutional map.”
He Defended it as “performing as an effective minority opportunity district,” but he also said he was prepared for a Veto and hoped that the Governor would spell out his Reasons in an accompanying Veto message. But, Rodrigues added, he also expected “an opportunity to have it signed.”
NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker
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