Fla. House passes redistricting amendment

TALLAHASSEE — The Republican-controlled Florida Legislature’s answer to a pair of citizen initiatives on redistricting has passed in the House.

The proposed state constitutional amendment (HJR 7231) cleared the chamber on a partisan 72-40 roll call Monday. That was just two more votes than the three-fifths needed.

If also approved by the Senate, the measure would go on the Nov. 2 ballot. There it would join the citizen initiatives, Amendments 5 and 6. One is for legislative and the other for congressional redistricting.

House Democrats said the legislative proposal would undermine the initiatives designed to prevent gerrymandering to favor incumbents or political parties.

Republicans say their proposal would clarify the initiatives.