Florida Legislature once again fails mission, proving inept

Florida's Legislature proved once again to be an inept, even broken political entity. This week, the Senate and House failed to agree on new redistricting maps for the upper chamber after ending a three-week special session. Facing a lawsuit, the Senate conceded the old maps had been drawn illegally. Now the courts will select one of the newest maps.

This mirrors the Legislature's failure to approve new boundaries for congressional districts during a special session in August after the state Supreme Court invalidated the map in July as a violation of one of Florida's Fair Districts constitutional amendments. This, too, left the decision in the hands of the courts.

Ahead of those political debacles, the House quit the chaotic regular session early before accomplishing the lone task demanded in the state Constitution -- passing a balanced budget.

Outraged senators sought a Supreme Court decision, and justices ruled the House action violated the Constitution. Lawmakers finally agreed on a budget during a special session that ended in June.

Republicans control both chambers but they could not come to terms on redistricting in the face of rigid political battles. Now some lawmakers are coming to their senses by suggesting the creation of an independent commission for drawing political boundaries.

Rep. Richard Corcoran, R-Land O'Lakes, put the matter succintly in a Herald/Times Tallahassee Bureau interview after the collapse of the special session: "The system is completely broken and it needs to be fixed, and I'm completely open to a commission."

Corcoran assumes the House speakership in 2016. He'll have the influence to push commission legislation, one this Editorial Board has advocated in the past.

By law, new boundaries are drawn after new census figures become available. Populataion counts occur every 10 years, so there is plenty of time to create a commission ahead of the 2020 census.

The Legislature conducted three costly special sessions. Taxpayers are also covering the $11 million lawmakers wasted in fighting numerous legal challenges to redistricting over four years.

The Democratic leader in the House, Rep. Mark Pafford of West Palm Beach, called the latest failed effort "an example of years of arrogance and selfishness." Indeed.

Since lawmakers are failing to conduct the people's business, instead waging political warfare, it's certainly time for an independent commission to eliminate secrecy and give transparency to the redistricting process.

This story was originally published November 7, 2015 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Florida Legislature once again fails mission, proving inept ."