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Tempers flared as a sharply divided state Senate approved new maps for the 40 member body, but as Mike Vasilinda tells us the map is likely to run into political and legal trouble.

The map drawing turned into finger pointing, with St. Petersburg Sen. Jack Latvala questioning the politics behind the new Senate map and the cost of being told by the courts twice before to draw it again.

“This whole process has cost the taxpayers eleven million dollars. I predict if we pass this map today, we’re probably in it for another million at least” said Latvala.

Latvala has personally singled out the chairman of the first map drawing effort, Sen. Don Gaetz of Niceville. Gaetz took to the Senate Floor for a rare point of personal privilege.

“When a bully  throws a sucker punch, you hit back and never give in. These are sad days in the history of this institution.”

The current map splits three counties…Alaucha…Volusia, and Sarasota, which brought Sarasota’s Nancy Detert to her feet.

“It’s just a terrible map for my district. 128 miles long. Harder to serve” says Detert.

The map also has one Tampa seat crossing Tampa Bay…which the courts said was unnecessary when it ordered a congressional map redrawn. Sen. Arthenia Joyner (D-Tampa0 believes the courts will get another say.

“We’ll see what the court has to say about it. You know, I said initially, this is not going to be an easy process. A dog fight I think I said.”

Given the dissension here in the Senate, it’s highly unlikely the House is going to approve this map, and that means its going to be back to the drawing boards.

The House will vote next week while Senators go home.

“These are difficult days” Senate President Andy Gardiner told fellow Senators before gaveling the Senate to recess.

Detractors also say the map will make it harder for central Floridians of  Puerto Rican descent to elect one of their own…which they did for the first time in 2012. A leadership fight in the Senate is complicating the map drawing process.