We need good government/left-leaning groups to make fair districts to counter TeaBagger maps.

A TeaBagger came to a redistricting meeting with maps in hand. We need people to counter that if possible. I can't tell you how critical it is for the FL Dems to get a more favorable legislative and congressional map by 2012.



http://www.npr.org/2011/06/23/137376145/politics-embroil-floridas-redistricting-hearings

In Florida, a political battle is underway. The outcome will help determine the makeup of Florida's legislature and its congressional delegation. We're talking about redistricting - always a controversial process. Every 10 years, states redraw their district maps, and in the past decade Florida has grown by nearly three million people. That means it is adding two congressional seats. As NPR's Greg Allen reports from Miami, the state has new rules that attempt to take politics out of the process.

GREG ALLEN: Other states, like New Jersey and Illinois, have completed their redistricting maps. With just over a year until the 2012 primary, Florida is just getting started.

Unidentified Man: The House redistricting hearing is called to order. Will the administrative assistant please call the roll?

ALLEN: At this hearing in Tallahassee and at two dozen others being held around the state, Floridians are invited to contribute their ideas about how the states 120 legislative and now-27 congressional districts should be drawn.

In terms of creativity however, it will be hard to outdo the current maps. Ten years ago, Floridas Republican-controlled legislature drew a masterpiece of gerrymandering. In a state almost evenly split between registered Republicans and Democrats, its helped the GOP win two-thirds of the seats in the state legislature and 19 of 25 seats in Congress.

At the hearing, Tallahassee resident Adam Anthony Biblo noted that, under current maps, even small cities like his are split up among several legislative districts.

Mr. ADAM ANTHONY BIBLO: When its divided, whatever the intent is, it gives the appearance that its divided for the wrong purpose, that is to dilute, diminish the effect of the voters of that urban area.

ALLEN: When new maps are drawn, that time-honored practice of slicing up urban areas like a pie may have to change. Last fall, Florida voters approved constitutional amendments that rewrite the rules for how congressional and legislative maps can be drawn.

Under the new rules, which are being challenged in court, districts must be contiguous and compact and as much as possible follow existing geographic boundaries such as city and county lines. Whats more, they must be drawn in a way that doesnt favor incumbents or either political party.

For legislators, political consultants and activists, its a whole new ball game, and many, like Susan Watson of Floridas ACLU, are eager to get started.

Ms. SUSAN WATSON (Florida ACLU): Where are the maps?

ALLEN: Floridas House and Senate have set up an elaborate website devoted to redistricting that even includes software allowing Floridians to draw their own district maps. But while others are welcome to get started, the legislature says it wont release its proposed maps until next year.

Watson says without maps on the table, the planned 11 weeks of hearings will be meaningless.

Ms. WATSON: Start a meaningful conversation. Otherwise, youre just wasting everybodys time.

ALLEN: Another speaker, Henry Kelly, disagreed.

Mr. HENRY KELLY (Fort Walton Beach Tea Party): With the growth of our population, Im glad to start with a blank slate.

ALLEN: Kelly, whos with the Fort Walton Beach Tea Party, said hes even created a few congressional and legislative districts using the committees website.

Mr. KELLY: I have found the software easy to use. It took me about 15 minutes, with the help of the videos, to become proficient and several hours to draw the plans.

ALLEN: House redistricting chairman Will Weatherford says he views the new software and maps produced by the public as a form of crowd-sourcing: drawing input from the largest number of people possible before the legislature puts its own map together. And he rejects any suggestion these hearings are just window dressing.

State Representative WILL WEATHERFORD (Republican, Florida): Well, what would be window dressing would be if we drew maps now and then asked them what they thought. And theyd say: Well, you dont care what we think because youve already drawn the maps.

We think that the best way to go about his process is to take public testimony on the front end and then draw maps and then go back and take more public testimony based on the maps that youve drawn.

ALLEN: Whatever maps the legislature eventually produces will be scrutinized by the state supreme court and the Justice Department. Having a well-documented record of public comment, Weatherford says, will help that process.

If history is any guide, Floridas redistricting plan is also likely to face legal challenges. Floridas legislature wont release its final district maps until January, and many here worry final maps wont be approved in time for the states filing deadline in June.