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The entire country is getting involved in the campaign in Florida over abortion
The entire country is getting involved in the campaign in Florida over abortionFlorida may no longer be a battleground in the presidential race, but a new political fight over abortion is drawing interest from around the country and taking center stage in the Sunshine State.
Donors — both in Florida and nationally — are putting tens of millions of dollars behind a proposed constitutional amendment that would legalize abortion up until fetal viability, generally understood to be around 24 weeks of pregnancy. Known as Amendment 4, the measure also includes exceptions past that mark for “the patient’s health, as determined by the patient’s healthcare provider.”
Opponents of the ballot measure, including Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and the state Republican Party he commands, say it’s an ill-defined and overly broad effort to ensure abortion access up until a child is born.
For abortion rights activists, the proposed amendment represents the best chance for Florida voters to overturn a six-week abortion ban that took effect in May and stands among the strictest abortion laws in the country passed since Roe v. Wade, the landmark abortion rights case, was overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court two years ago.
“I think this is one of the largest humanitarian issues on a ballot nationwide right now,” said Lauren Brenzel, the director of Floridians Protecting Freedom, the main group supporting Amendment 4. “We know we’re going to see opposition to this campaign. Our job is to not take our foot off the gas. We have to move full steam ahead; we have to make sure we’re communicating, not just in our state but nationwide, how important this is.”
Donors — both in Florida and nationally — are putting tens of millions of dollars behind a proposed constitutional amendment that would legalize abortion up until fetal viability, generally understood to be around 24 weeks of pregnancy. Known as Amendment 4, the measure also includes exceptions past that mark for “the patient’s health, as determined by the patient’s healthcare provider.”
Opponents of the ballot measure, including Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and the state Republican Party he commands, say it’s an ill-defined and overly broad effort to ensure abortion access up until a child is born.
For abortion rights activists, the proposed amendment represents the best chance for Florida voters to overturn a six-week abortion ban that took effect in May and stands among the strictest abortion laws in the country passed since Roe v. Wade, the landmark abortion rights case, was overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court two years ago.
“I think this is one of the largest humanitarian issues on a ballot nationwide right now,” said Lauren Brenzel, the director of Floridians Protecting Freedom, the main group supporting Amendment 4. “We know we’re going to see opposition to this campaign. Our job is to not take our foot off the gas. We have to move full steam ahead; we have to make sure we’re communicating, not just in our state but nationwide, how important this is.”