(Photo courtesy of Rick Scott.)
By Ralph De La Cruz
Florida Center for Investigative Reporting
Unbelievable.
You know, I’d like to be able to say something nice about Gov. Rick Scott. I mean, he’s the governor. I want him — and the state — to do well and prosper. And OK: Scott did sell off the state’s fleet of two planes. Congrats, governor.
But then I read stuff like this from The Miami Herald.
And all I can do is shake my head and say … unbelievable.
Scott’s administration is holding up approval of two amendments that were passed overwhelmingly by voters — but with which Scott didn’t agree. The amendments require legislators to create voting districts on a nonpartisan basis when they put together a new redistricting plan for the state.
Seems simple enough.
But because the amendments deal with elections and voting rights, they must be approved by the U.S. Department of Justice. Outgoing Gov. Charlie Crist submitted the state’s request in December. Scott promptly withdrew the request, which could delay implementation.
Amendments 5 and 6 each received more than 3.1 million votes. That’s more than new U.S Sen. Marco Rubio received. More than new Atty. Gen. Pam Bondi. More than new Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater. More than new Commissioner of Agriculture Adam Putnam.
And about half a million more votes than Scott received.
How can you disregard the pleas of 3.1 million for nonpartisanship?
Well, in Scott’s case, you do it three days after taking office. You do it real quietly.
And when you get caught, you cry out that it’s being done in the name of fairness.
“We want to make sure that with regard to redistricting, it’s fair, it’s the right way of doing it,” Scott said.
Although, with Republican super-majority control in both legislative chambers as well as the governor’s office, you have to wonder why Scott is so worried about fairness.
I’m reminded of the scene in that cinematic masterpiece Caddyshack when Rodney Dangerfield slides up to the man refereeing his golf match, shoves a wad of bills into his hand and says, “Here, keep it fair. Keep it fair.”