News & Alerts

Fla. House still fighting redistricting amendment

Associated Press | Miami Herald | 09/29/2011

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — The Florida House is appealing a court ruling upholding an anti-gerrymandering amendment to the state constitution.

House Speaker Dean Cannon, a Winter Park Republican, announced the decision Thursday.

Voters last year approved two similar amendments, one each dealing with legislative and congressional districts.
They bar lawmakers from drawing districts to favor incumbents or a political party.

The Florida House and two members of Congress sued to overturn the congressional measure, Amendment 6.

Amendment 5 on legislative redistricting was not challenged.

A federal judge in Miami upheld Amendment 6 on Sept. 9.

U.S. Reps. Mario Diaz-Balart, a Miami Republican, and Corrine Brown, a Jacksonville Democrat, immediately said they would appeal.
Cannon now says the GOP-controlled House also will ask an Atlanta appellate court to reverse the ruling.



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