FLA Dems File Legal Challenge of GOP-backed State Legislative Maps

Tallahassee, FL – The Florida Democratic Party today filed a brief challenging the GOP-backed state legislative maps. The party filed a lawsuit in state court last week challenging the GOP-backed congressional maps.

“We firmly believe the state legislative maps are in violation of Amendment Five and are aimed at the very things which Florida’s constitution now prohibits,” said Florida Democratic Party Chairman Rod Smith. “These maps represent a desperate attempt by Republicans to retain their stranglehold on state government and cement their control in Tallahassee for another decade.”

The legal brief was filed today at the Florida Supreme Court. Central to the party’s challenge is the following excerpt:

“But, in the end, the legislative reapportionment plan violates nearly every one of the new provisions in Article III, Section 21 of the Florida Constitution.  The Legislature systematically tried to redefine its new constitutional duties to fit its own goals rather than abide by the will of Florida voters to provide fair and understandable maps.  It falls on this Court’s shoulders to protect the will of the people and to make clear that the new constitutional standards created real change and have real meaning, and that failure to abide by them will have real consequences.”

Last week, the FDP, working with concerned Florida voters, filed a lawsuit in Florida state court to challenge the constitutionality of the Congressional maps which violate the Fair District amendments and seek to suppress the voice of Florida’s citizens. The FDP suit alleges the 2012 Congressional map violates multiple aspects of Article III, Section 20 of the Florida Constitution – Amendment 6.

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