News 13 political analyst Michelle Ertel (R) is in Tallahassee for the start of the Special Session in which the Florida Legislature will address redistricting as it relates to Judge Terry Lewis' ruling that two of Florida's Congressional districts were improperly drawn.
Michelle's tweets from Tallahassee are below:
10:43am
GPS says I'm about an hour away from Tally. They won't start without me, right? #mapageddon
— Michelle Ertel (@MichelleErtel) August 7, 201412:05pm
Almost at my destination. On the left there's a palm reader's sign. Wonder how she thinks this will turn out. #mapageddon @MyNews13
— Michelle Ertel (@MichelleErtel) August 7, 201412:37pm
Gavel dropped at noon and by 12:20, legislators we're gone. Here's the view from the 5th floor now. @MyNews13 pic.twitter.com/cH84KD4Grl
— Michelle Ertel (@MichelleErtel) August 7, 201412:44pm
Just ran into Rep. @MikeClelland1 who came from Seminole County to open special legislative session.
— Michelle Ertel (@MichelleErtel) August 7, 201412:45pm
Non-committee members will return Monday. BTW - this costs taxpayers at least $70K per day.
— Michelle Ertel (@MichelleErtel) August 7, 201412:50pm
Speaker @willweatherford lightens the mood with a few jokes; and now it's time to get down to business #mapageddon
— Lara Medley (@LaraMedley) retweeted by @michelleertel August 7, 2014
12:52pm
As start of #FLLeg session on redistricting - @willweatherford insists new congressional maps will be "apolitical"
— Gary Fineout (@fineout) retweeted by @michelleertel August 7, 20141:05pm
If haven't been to the Fla. Capitol when legislature isn't in session and FSU hasn't started, you'll enjoy the tumbleweeds. #ghosttown
— Michelle Ertel (@MichelleErtel) August 7, 20142:20pm
Sitting in a room in the Knott Building waiting for the joint committee meeting to begin. Lots of people in suits filing in now.
— Michelle Ertel (@MichelleErtel) August 7, 20142:22pm
Fla. Rep. @KCastorDentel (House 30) is here!
— Michelle Ertel (@MichelleErtel) August 7, 20142:24pm
Senator @DSimmonsFL just walked into the room. He's on the committee that'll be on stage today. #mapageddon
— Michelle Ertel (@MichelleErtel) August 7, 20142:31pm
Just saw @SenDarrenSoto slapping palms near the front of the room.
— Michelle Ertel (@MichelleErtel) August 7, 20142:35pm
Roll call - quorum present. We're just about ready to get this party started. @MyNews13
— Michelle Ertel (@MichelleErtel) August 7, 20142:36pm
Senator @BillGalvano chairing the meeting. Thanks Chairman Rep. @richardcorcoran for chairing House committee. @MyNews13
— Michelle Ertel (@MichelleErtel) August 7, 20142:39pm
Council for Fla. @FLSenate schooling committee how "we got to this point." Discussing how we got to today.
— Michelle Ertel (@MichelleErtel) August 7, 20142:46pm
By law, there should be 696,345 people each district.
— Michelle Ertel (@MichelleErtel) August 7, 20142:49pm
Several ways to measure compactness. What does it look like to the eye? Very subjective.
— Michelle Ertel (@MichelleErtel) August 7, 20142:50pm
Other measures of compactness exist. What is the smallest circle that can encompass district. Divide area of district by area of circle.
— Michelle Ertel (@MichelleErtel) August 7, 20142:51pm
Another measure is the "rubber band" method. Band goes around a rectangle. Very different from the circle.
— Michelle Ertel (@MichelleErtel) August 7, 20142:56pm
Plaintiffs (League of Women Voters/Common Cause) challenged 10 of 27 congressional districts in court.
— Michelle Ertel (@MichelleErtel) August 7, 20142:59pm
Case set for trial in 2013. Legislature wanted to expedite the trial, attorney tells committee.
— Michelle Ertel (@MichelleErtel) August 7, 20143:02pm
Legislature believed appropriate to draw CD5 to include portion of Seminole County. Been part of district since 1992.
— Michelle Ertel (@MichelleErtel) August 7, 20143:06pm
July 10, court found that districts 5 & 10 were unconstitutional. Court found no fault with 25 of 27 Congressional districts.
— Michelle Ertel (@MichelleErtel) August 7, 20143:11pm
House Proposed Congressional Map (H000C9057) is now available at http://www.floridaredistricting.org/. #sayfie
— Florida House (@MyFLHouse) August 7, 20143:12pm
Defendants believed the 2014 elections should proceed under 2012 map. Last week court said no and ordered maps be redrawn by August 15.
— Michelle Ertel (@MichelleErtel) August 7, 20143:13pm
Court hasn't determined what to do with 2014 elections that are already underway.
— Michelle Ertel (@MichelleErtel) August 7, 20143:13pm
Under this map, Webster gets parts of Osceola Cty, loses 89k in Orange, and will need to introduce himself to roughly 89k new voters in Polk
— Matt Dixon (@Mdixon55) retweeted by @michelleertel August 7, 20143:15pm
Florida House attorney now up. Talking about minority districts. Will give committee history of those districts.
— Michelle Ertel (@MichelleErtel) August 7, 20143:16pm
Amendment 6 says there must be an opportunity where African American vote will count and won't be diminished, House lawyer says.
— Michelle Ertel (@MichelleErtel) August 7, 20143:16pm
Fla. Senate releases its map - it's identical to the one released by the Fla. House. #Endgame #mapageddon
— Gary Fineout (@fineout) retweeted by @michelleertel August 7, 20143:32pm
House lawyer Meros tells committee plaintiff's east-west map makes it less likely a black candidate would win.
— Michelle Ertel (@MichelleErtel) August 7, 20143:35pm
Taking a breather to go meet with @MyNews13 folks in another building. Be back soon, Tweeps!
— Michelle Ertel (@MichelleErtel) August 7, 20143:57pm
Heading back! Tweeting to resume soon. pic.twitter.com/vJ9raWPE1Z
— Michelle Ertel (@MichelleErtel) August 7, 20144:05pm
.@DSimmonsFL up now. He looks and sounds very serious. He wants to know who was paid to draw plaintiff's map. Did the Dems pay for it?
— Michelle Ertel (@MichelleErtel) August 7, 20144:12pm
Simmons: The conduct of GOP operatives constitutes free speech. Told under judge's order there is something wrong with it.
— Michelle Ertel (@MichelleErtel) August 7, 20144:13pm
.@DSimmonsFL is on a roll. We're having our staff be free of any kind of influences by anybody in the drafting in these maps.
— Michelle Ertel (@MichelleErtel) August 7, 20144:13pm
Judge's order is unconstitutional says @DSimmonsFL. Wow. Senator Simmons is pretty upset.
— Michelle Ertel (@MichelleErtel) August 7, 20144:34pm
Rep. @BillGalvano trying to limit the questions and narrow the focus of discussion. We'll see how that works out.
— Michelle Ertel (@MichelleErtel) August 7, 20144:41pm
Public testimony coming up next.
— Michelle Ertel (@MichelleErtel) August 7, 20144:42pm
Executive director of @LWVFlorida - Members remain to making sure the voters ensure elected officials and not the other way around.
— Michelle Ertel (@MichelleErtel) August 7, 20144:42pm
Judge Lewis provides clear pathway for this body to use moving forward - @LWVFlorida
— Michelle Ertel (@MichelleErtel) August 7, 20144:43pm
Up next, Seminole SOE. He told me to behave myself. @VoteSeminole @MyNews13
— Michelle Ertel (@MichelleErtel) August 7, 20144:44pm
Seminole County mentioned today more than any other day on the floor - @VoteSeminole
— Michelle Ertel (@MichelleErtel) August 7, 20144:45pm
Seminole SOE wants timelines to increase voter trust. "We're Florida. We need to make sure everything we do increases trust in the process."
— Michelle Ertel (@MichelleErtel) August 7, 20144:46pm
"We can do it, we aren't in the whining business, we're in the getting it done done." He wants to be successful, not rushed. @VoteSeminole
— Michelle Ertel (@MichelleErtel) August 7, 20144:48pm
Cost estimate: Seminole County did "back of napkin estimates" it will cost us about $550K to do special election. @VoteSeminole
— Michelle Ertel (@MichelleErtel) August 7, 20144:50pm
The Secretary of State has been charged with meeting with impacted SOEs. He's been keeping them all informed. @VoteSeminole
— Michelle Ertel (@MichelleErtel) August 7, 20144:51pm
Legally, there would have to be a variety of laws changed to try to do something that could open up some polling locations. @VoteSeminole
— Michelle Ertel (@MichelleErtel) August 7, 20144:51pm
In Seminole County, 56 percent of polling locations are in houses of worship. Will they be available in December? Prob not. @VoteSeminole
— Michelle Ertel (@MichelleErtel) August 7, 20144:54pm
In this election, the wise SOEs are making sure we are separating & keeping ballots from this election. It's going to be contested in court.
— Michelle Ertel (@MichelleErtel) August 7, 20144:55pm
Seminole County elections supervisor questions holding an elex in December since many polling places are churches/synagogues
— Gary Fineout (@fineout) retweeted by @michelleertel August 7, 20144:55pm
Seminole SOE wouldn't commit to special election timeline. Wants to wait for variables to be settled first. @VoteSeminole.
— Michelle Ertel (@MichelleErtel) August 7, 20144:55pm
.@DSimmonsFL - Asks about candidate qualifying and asks Seminole SOE for timeline. @VoteSeminole says SOEs won't violate any law.
— Michelle Ertel (@MichelleErtel) August 7, 20145:00pm
Looks like we're done until tomorrow. Now heading back to Central Florida. Thanks for all the retweets! @MyNews13
— Michelle Ertel (@MichelleErtel) August 7, 2014
At 5:03pm, the Joint Meeting of the Senate Committee on Reapportionment and House Select Committee on Redistricting adjourned for the day and will resume committee work Friday morning at 10:15am.