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Florida lawmakers have already spent more than eight million dollars defending what have been ruled unconstitutional Congressional district boundary maps, Florida lawmakers today began a 19 day special session to redraw the state Senate maps, and as Mike Vasilinda tells us, sparks are already flying.

On Monday, lawmakers began what could be a 19 day special session to redraw the state Senate maps, after Senators admitted in July the maps were drawn to help incumbents. We asked Sen. Bill Galvano (R-Bradenton) Q:“Was it a confession that you drew them wrong the first time?” “No, I don’t view it as a confession” responded the redistricting Chair.

Nat sot: Map drawing is certainly a complicated process” observed House Speaker Steve Crisafulli. He told his members the House would give deference to the Senate, but.

“Members, the House will not be a rubber stamp for just anything the Senate sends over to us. But I do expect us to be good partners in passing a constitutionally compliant map.”

One of the problems the House faces is that eight of members are already running for the Senate. And anything that helps them would be perceived as illegal.

“Were not here to look out for our political futures, we’re here to pass constitutionally complaint maps and I hope that our members do not make that a factor in their determination in the way they vote on these maps” said Crisafulli when asked about House members running for the Senate.

Across the hallway on the Capitol’s fourth floor, Senators almost immediately gave the House a reason to object to the Senate maps. Sen. Jack Latvala (R-St. Petersburg) asked “what happens to a sitting member who is in the middle of a four year term?”

The Senate is taking the position that only those districts whose number change would have to run for re-election.

“There is a legal argument to be made that the members who have been elected to four year terms have a right to those seats” said Galvano.

And by the time this session is over, the costs for not following the constitution are expected to top eleven million dollars.

The Senate position of not every Senator having to run appears to be at odds with a 1982 Florida Supreme Court decision that said all 40 Senators have to face voters when the maps change.