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The Florida Senate spent just 13 minutes in session today on the first of a fifteen day extraordinary session called to redraw a map of state Senate Districts. As Mike Vasilinda tells us, the session is necessary because the Florida Supreme Court found the Senate defied voters wishes and drew a map favoring incumbents.

When does two come before five but after seven? When does 22 fall between 17 and 19? And what about 33 coming between 38 and 39?

The math is possible only on the map drawing new lines for the state Senate.

The Florida supreme court, in this 200-page-plus opinion, found that the way the senate numbered its districts, was proof that the Senate ignored voters and tried to protect incumbents.

The way districts are numbered is important because it decides who gets a two-year term and who gets a four years. Under the first Senate map, Sen. Arthenia Joyner would have gotten a ten year term, thwarting another constitutional amendment: “eight is enough.”

“I didn’t know how it happened,” Sen. Joyner said. “So, I’m here to serve whatever term I get, and I came knowing it would be 8, and if it’s 10, it’s 10.”

Senator Don Gaetz says the numbering was developed by a professional staff, but he’s willing to try anything to get the court to say OK.

“One way is that we can simply draw lots,” Gaetz said. “Another way is that we can have the department of the lottery run some balls in a tumbler.”

Lawmakers will spend several hundred thousand dollars fixing a map that voters told them to do right the first time.

The public’s only opportunity to comment will be at a March 20th committee hearing or on the web at MyFlorida Senate.gov. If the Senate fails to fix the problems outlined by the court, the court will have sixty days to draw the map.