TALHASSEE, Fla. (WFLA) – Florida is stagnating as the fight for rezoning heats up nationwide. House Speaker Danny Perez says he hopes lawmakers will explore the issue, but that the House would not go far without support from the Senate.
The Florida Republican on Capitol Hill holds 20 of the 28 seats in Congress following the 2022 map led by Gov. Ron DeSantis. Three years later, Sunshine State is on track to redraw the Congressional map again.
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Perez has called on state legislators to join the Select Committee and jump into the issue, but rezoning efforts will require support from both the state legislative rooms.
8 On your part, political anchor Ty Russell asked Senate President Ben Albritton where he stood on this issue. Albritton said the Senate is moving at its own pace.
“We want to understand all these nooks and cranny, so at this point I’ll leave it alone. But functionally, at 30,000 feet, we’re wide open to conversation.”
As the Senate was “opened” to rezone the plan, state Democrats are holding red flags, calling the move unethical and fearing they don’t have a voice.
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“There are no doubt that there are members of the Democratic Caucus who require you to join this committee. I think it’s important to note that the notes from the speakers try to instill something that feels like a gag rule that can disqualify you from serving.
Perez said he would not select members who “expressed interest in running for Congress.” Also, “As an elected member of the House of Representatives, you are free to express your opinion, but statements about your district that suggest that intent to support or dislike an incumbent or political party currently prohibited by the Florida Constitution will disappoint you from consideration.”
Political analyst Tara Newsom has been caught up in the debate saying that no matter how the months ahead pan out, the actual report cards will come in the 2026 midterm elections.
“It’s the last voice of voters who are actually trying to get a rubber stamp, whether Democrats fought hard enough, and whether they put up with Republican constituencies.
Although there are no specific dates yet, Perez says the selected committee members will be announced in September and will begin working with the committee week that begins in October.
