House, Senate can't resolve differences on Senate districts

The Florida Senate is rejecting a new map that reconfigures its 40 districts and ending a special session without an agreement.

The 23-16 vote on Thursday leaves the Legislature with no agreement on the new political boundaries with less than a day left in a special session to redraw a previously approved map that's being challenged in court.

Senators not only criticized the map the House approved Tuesday, but also the process that forces lawmakers to place an emphasis on geometrics rather than the makeup of communities.

Sen. Bill Galvano said it took the soul out of map making.

Several groups are suing the Legislature, claiming it didn't follow the constitutional requirement to draw districts that don't favor incumbents or political parties.

The Legislature earlier this year held a special session to redraw congressional maps and also failed to reach an agreement.