Florida House Begins Floor Debate on Redistricting
A final vote is expected Friday
Thursday, Feb 2, 2012 | Updated 4:30 PM EDT
AP
A view of Florida's Old Capitol, with the new Capitol in the background, in Tallahassee.
Redistricting is headed for final action in the Republican-controlled Florida Legislature.
But critics say the maps violate two new state constitutional amendments.
The House began floor action on Thursday with a final vote expected Friday. The plans then return to the Senate, which already has passed its own set of congressional and legislative maps.
Three groups in the Fair Districts coalition, which sponsored the anti-gerrymandering amendments, contend the maps drafted by both chambers are defective.
The maps' Republican sponsors deny those allegations, so the issue is likely to be decided in court.
A final vote in the Senate could come next week. The House plans include a proposed compromise congressional map. House and Senate leaders also have agreed to accept the map the other chamber has drawn for itself.
