Discussions Over Florida Congressional Maps

JOINING US TODAY. FLORIDA LAWMAKERS BEGAN THE FIRST OF WHAT COULD BE MULTIPLE SPECIAL SESSIONS THIS YEAR ON MONDAY. GOVERNOR RON DESANTIS CAPTURED NATIONAL ATTENTION AFTER RELEASING A PROPOSED REDISTRICTING MAP OF THE UNITED STATES, U.S. HOUSE SEATS THAT COULD FLIP FOR FLORIDA'S CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS FROM DEMOCRATIC TO REPUBLICAN CONTROL. THIS IS ALL PART OF A BROADER EFFORT TAKING PLACE IN SEVERAL STATES TO REDRAW CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT LINES AHEAD OF THE MIDTERM ELECTIONS. WE ARE JOINED BY WGCU HOST AND REPORTER JOHN DAVIS. FOR A CLOSER LOOK. AND JOHN, WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THIS PROPOSED REDISTRICTING MAP? THE GOVERNOR DESANTIS UNVEILED YESTERDAY PRIOR TO EVEN TELLING LAWMAKERS, CORRECT? THAT'S RIGHT. HE UNVEILED THEIR SONG. FOX NEWS BEFORE EVEN SENDING IT TO THE LAWMAKERS WHO ARE ACTUALLY GOING TO HAVE TO CONSIDER AND VOTE ON IT. SO. >> THAT'S SOMETHING. BUT THE MAP ITSELF IF THE MIDTERM ELECTIONS GO THE WAY THAT DESANTIS WANTS. WHAT IT'S DESIGNED TO DO WOULD BE TO FLIP 4 OF THE 8 U.S. HOUSE SEATS BUT ARE CURRENTLY HELD BY DEMOCRATS TO REPUBLICANS. SO IT WOULD ELIMINATE ABOUT HALF OF THE EXISTING DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSIONAL SEATS AND FLORIDA THAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW. AND WE KNOW WE HAVE THIS DETAILED MAP. SO WE KNOW THAT THE DISTRICT'S HE'S TARGETING OUR DEMOCRAT KATHY CASTOR AND THE TAMPA BAY DISTRICT 9, WHICH HAS BEEN HELD BY DEMOCRAT DARREN SOTO FOR ABOUT THE PAST 9 YEARS. ALSO, 2 CONGRESSIONAL SOUTH, FLORIDA. AGAIN, IF THE MIDTERM ELECTIONS CODE, THE WAY DESANTIS THINKS THEY WILL, THEY WOULD FLIP FROM BLUE TO RED AND THOSE OF THE DISTRICT HELD BY LOIS FRANKEL AND DEBBIE WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. NOW, THERE ARE SOME SAFE DEMOCRATIC SEATS, THE BROWARD COUNTY DISTRICT OF JARED MOSKOWITZ LIKELY WOULD NOT BE AFFECTED ACCORDING TO SOME ANALYSYS I'VE SEEN. ALSO FREDERICA WILSON'S MIAMI DISTRICT SEAT WOULD ALSO BE FAIR ARE PRETTY SAFE. AND THEN THERE'S ANOTHER SEAT IN SOUTH FLORIDA THAT UP UNTIL VERY RECENTLY HAVE BEEN HELD BY SHEILA CHERFILUS MCCORMICK. IT LOOKS LIKE THAT WOULD ALSO REMAIN. >> A DEMOCRATIC DISTRICT AND REPUBLICANS IN FAVOR OF THIS REDISTRICTING MAP. THEY ARE CONTENDING THAT IT IS NOT PARTISAN GERRYMANDERING. BUT ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE, WE'VE GOT A LOT OF DEMOCRATS THAT SAY THIS IS 100% POLITICAL AND IT IS GERRYMANDERING. THESE DISTRICTS. WHAT ARE THE ARGUMENTS ON ON EITHER SIDE >> THIS IS WHERE IT GETS REALLY INTERESTING. I MEAN, I THINK EVEN, YOU KNOW, GOING BACK TO RELEASING THE MAPS MONDAY MORNING ON FOX NEWS INSTEAD OF FIRST GIVING THEM TO LAWMAKERS IS KIND OF AN INDICATION OF SOME PARTISANSHIP, AT LEAST IN SPIRIT. BUT JUST BEYOND THAT, THE WAY THE MAPS WERE PRESENTED AS THOUGH THE DISTRICTS THAT HE WANTED TO REMAIN REPUBLICAN OR FLIP TO REPUBLICAN WERE COLORED IN RED AND THEN THE 4 REMAINING DEMOCRATIC SEAT. AGAIN, IF YOU GET SWEATY WANT WE'RE IN BLUE. SO WHY WOULD YOU SHOW US A MAP THAT ALREADY HAS THE ATTENDED IMPACTS OF HOW YOU WANT THEM TO VOTE AND MOST THAT WASN'T THE INTENT THE ENTIRE TIME. AND THAT'S KIND OF SOMETHING DEMOCRATS HAVE BEEN POINTING OUT. I WAS ALSO JUST LOOKING UP THIS MORNING, THE LATEST NUMBERS FROM THE STATE DIVISION OF ELECTIONS. SO IS THE FLORIDA HOUSE ABOUT 5.5 MILLION REGISTERED REPUBLICANS AND A LITTLE OVER 4 MILLION REGISTERED DEMOCRATS THAT AS OF MARCH 31ST SO 24 TO 4, THAT DOESN'T REALLY BREAK DOWN WHEN THERE'S JUST ONE AND A HALF MILLION FEWER DEMOCRATIC VOTERS IN THE STATE THAN THERE ARE REPUBLICANS. AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW, FOLKS LIKE HOUSE MINORITY LEADER FENTRICE DRISKELL HAVE BEEN HARPING ON SHE'S SAYING THE SPECIAL SESSION DOESN'T EVEN NEED TO HAPPEN. IT'S A WASTE OF TAXPAYER MONEY. SHE CALLED THIS QUOTE THE THIS IS THE CYNICAL SWAMP LIKE BEHAVIOR THAT PEOPLE HATE ABOUT POLITICS AND SHE CALLS THE CLAIMS FROM DESANTIS IS CAMP THAT THESE MAPS FAIRLY REFLECT FLORIDA, COMPLETELY BOGUS AND AGAIN, WITH THE REGISTRATION NUMBERS I JUST PROVIDED. I MEAN, THAT'S AN PARABLE EVIDENCE THAT THIS IS NOT REFLECTING THE DEMOGRAPHICS OF THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE. THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE SAYS THE PROPOSED MAPS WOULD ANY ACCOUNTING FOR RACE AND THIS RELATES TO THIS U.S. SUPREME COURT'S DECISION THAT ACTUALLY HASN'T BEEN HANDED DOWN YET. THIS CONCERNS THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT CASE IN LOUISIANA WHERE THEY'RE CHALLENGING THE CONCEPT OF MINORITY MAJORITY DISTRICTS. AND DESANTIS HAS NOT BEEN A FAN OF OUT FOR A LONG TIME. BUT WHAT'S REALLY INTERESTING IS HIS CHIEF COUNSEL ON MONDAY ALSO ISSUED A LETTER TO STATE LAWMAKERS KIND OF ATTACKING THE 2010 FAIR DISTRICT AMENDMENTS THAT FLORIDA VOTERS APPROVED THAT REALLY BAR THESE KIND OF DISTRICT BOUNDARIES FROM BEING DRAWN TO FAVOR A POLITICAL PARENT, CANDIDATE OR PARTY AND AGAIN, HIS WHOLE BASIS ON THIS IS HOW HE THINKS THE SUPREME COURT IS GOING TO RULE AND WE DON'T HAVE THAT RULING AT THE TYPICALLY NO USUALLY ISSUE THESE RULINGS BY THE END OF JUNE EARLY JULY. BUT THAT STILL. HOW YOU CAN INTERPRET A SUPREME COURT DECISION THAT HASN'T EVEN BEEN ISSUED TO SORT OF BE ON ME. AND BEYOND THAT, THE U.S. SUPREME COURT HAS SORT OF WEIGHED IN ON THIS A LITTLE OF THE FAIR DISTRICT AMENDMENTS IN FLORIDA WERE REFERENCED IN A 2018 RULING, BUT IN A FAVORABLE WAY. BUT AS FAR AS THE FAIR DISTRICT AMENDMENTS THEMSELVES, THEY'VE NEVER BEEN CHALLENGED IN COURT THAT THEY'VE NEVER BEEN FOUND, EVEN PARTIALLY TO BE UNCONSTITUTIONAL. SO I THOUGHT THAT WAS A PRETTY WILD CLAIM TO MAKE. LAWMAKERS ARE FOCUSING ON THIS REDISTRICTING EFFORT RIGHT NOW. BUT THEY ALSO HAVE. >> 2 OTHER MEASURES AI REGULATION AND VACCINE MANDATES FOR CHILDREN. RIGHT? WHAT IS THE STATUS OF THOSE? >> SO >> YOU GET WHAT WE SAW DURING THE REGULAR SESSION WAS THAT BOTH OF THE AI REGULATIONS, BILL AND THE INCREASING VACCINE EXEMPTION MANDATES FOR KIDS. THE SENATE PASSED THEM. THE HOUSE DID NOT PICK THEM UP WHEN IT COMES TO THE VACCINES ISSUE, THOUGH, THIS IS CALLED THE MEDICAL FREEDOM ACT AND WOULD BASICALLY GIVE PARENTS THE OPTION TOO. WAIVE MEASLES, MUMPS, RUBELLA VACCINES REQUIRED TO ATTEND A K THROUGH 12 PUBLIC SCHOOL BASED ON A CONSCIENTIOUS OR PHILOSOPHICAL REASON. CURRENTLY PARENTS CAN EXEMPT THEIR KIDS IF THEY CLAIM A RELIGIOUS EXEMPTION. SO THIS WOULD JUST EXPAND THE REASONS THAT YOU COULD EXEMPT YOUR CHILD. NOW, THE ART WOULD ALSO REQUIRE HEALTHCARE WORKERS TO PROVIDE A RISK AND BENEFIT INFORMATION ABOUT SPECIFIC VACCINES TO PARENTS BEFORE ADMINISTERING THEM TO A CHILD THIS YEAR. THAT IS WHAT WAS IN THE ORIGINAL BILL THAT DIDN'T PASS DURING THE REGULAR SESSION. THE BILL BEING CONSIDERED NOW DURING THE SPECIAL SESSION IS ALMOST IDENTICAL, BUT IT REQUIRES HEALTH CARE WORKERS TO PROVIDE THAT RISK AND BENEFIT INFORMATION TO ALL PARENTS, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER OR NOT THEY DECIDE TO EXEMPT THEIR KID FROM THE VACCINE. AND THEN WHAT ABOUT THE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE BILL OF RIGHTS THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE DISCUSSING SO THEY I, BILL OF RIGHTS. YOU KNOW, THIS WOULD REQUIRE THE DISCLOSURE WHEN PEOPLE INTERACT WITH BUTTS AND SOME SITUATIONS THAT WOULD CREATE PROTECTIONS FOR CHILDREN USING COMPANION CHATBOTS. IT WOULD RESTRICT CERTAIN USE OF AI GENERATED DEEPFAKE CENTRE ACEPTAR POLITICAL CONTENT AND IT WOULD CREATE CONSUMER RIGHTS AROUND AI DECISION-MAKING IN AREAS LIKE EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT. THE MEASURE THEY'RE CONSIDERING IN THE SPECIAL SESSION IS INTENDED TO BE IDENTICAL OR NEARLY IDENTICAL TO THE ONE THAT DIDN'T PASS IN THE HOUSE DURING THE REGULAR SESSION. SO AGAIN, LIKE WE TALKED ABOUT LAST FRIDAY, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE THINKING IS FROM THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE THAT THIS IS GOING TO PASS THIS TIME AROUND WHEN JUST ABOUT A MONTH AGO, THE HOUSE REJECTED A NEARLY IDENTICAL BILL. BUT HOUSE SPEAKER DANIEL PEREZ STILL CONTENDS AS DOES PRESIDENT TRUMP. OUR REGULATION IS SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL. IT'S JUST NOT GOING TO BE FEASIBLE FOR BIG TECH COMPANIES TO OPERATE A MAN, A PATCHWORK OF REGULATIONS THAT ARE GOING TO BE DIFFERENT FROM STATE TO STATE. AND IN THE MEANTIME, OUR STATE STILL DOES NOT HAVE A BUDGET THAT HAS NOT CHANGED SINCE WE SPOKE LAST. THAT'S RIGHT. THERE'S AN 18 DAY SESSION SCHEDULED TO START ON MAY 12 JUST TO HAMMER OUT THE BUDGET AND YOU KNOW, IF THEY DON'T DO IT WITHIN THAT TIME FRAME IN THE NEW FISCAL YEAR STARTS ON JULY. FIRST, WE WILL BE ENTERING A STATE GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN AND THEN ALSO DESANTIS CONTINUES TO INSIST EVEN LAST NIGHT ON FOX NEWS THAT LAWMAKERS ARE GOING TO STILL TACKLE PROPERTY TAXES, ALTHOUGH THERE'S NOTHING SCHEDULED AS FAR AS THE SPECIAL SESSION ON THAT SPECIFIC ISSUE, I WOULD EXPECT THAT TO HAPPEN. FIRST. BUT FOR THE IMMEDIATE FUTURE, I THINK ALL EYES ARE GOING TO BE ON THIS CONGRESSIONAL REDISTRICTING MAP BECAUSE AGAIN, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S HAPPENING IN STATES ACROSS THE NATION AND REALLY JUST A CHANGE OF 3 TO 5 SEATS COULD ULTIMATELY REMAKE THE BALANCE OF POWER IN WASHINGTON WOULD HAVE HUGE RAMIFICATIONS THANK YOU SO MUCH, JOHN. THANKS SO MUCH. THANK YOU. OKAY.