Mike Fasano Urges Rick Scott to Not Block Redistricting Amendments

While Sen. Mike Fasano, R-New Port Richey, did not back two constitutional amendments concerning redistricting that were passed by Florida voters in November, he urged Gov. Rick Scott to not stand in the way of a federal examination of them, calling them the will of the people.

I did not support Amendments 5 and 6 to the Florida Constitution that were ratified by the voters in November of 2010.I shared many of the concerns of others who opposed them, wrote Fasano in a letter to Scott on Wednesday. However, once the people voted and passed the amendments with more than the required 60 percent of the vote, it is my opinion that we as a state must move forward to allow them to become part of our Constitution.

Just as you and many other elected officials made it into office with a majority of the vote, as the rules required, the adoption of these amendments occurred just as the rules required.I would greatly appreciate it if you would consider resuming the federal review of the amendments so that the state can move forward with incorporating them into the Constitution (and allowing the reapportionment process to proceed according to the peoples will, continued Fasano. With the redistricting process underway it is imperative that the Florida Legislature has the time to do it right. By allowing the federal review to move forward, you will be assisting the Legislature in doing one of the most important functions it has: drawing the congressional and legislative districts.

Sign up for news alerts from Sunshine State News