FloridaĀ Gov.Ā Ron DeSantisĀ is putting the full weight of the Florida government behind an effort to defeat a ballot measure that would protectĀ abortionĀ access in the state āĀ including by enlisting government lawyers in a campaign to silence a young mother with terminal brain cancer who is warning of the danger Floridaās strict ban poses to women like her.
This November, Florida residents will have the opportunity to vote onĀ Amendment 4; if passed, the measure will enshrine the right to abortion ābefore viability or when necessary to protect the patientās healthā in Floridaās constitution. The pitch is broadly popular with Floridians: A September poll showed the measure attracting support fromĀ 76 percentĀ of voters.
But DeSantis, who has signed two separate abortion bans into law ā restricting the procedure first at 15 weeks, then 6 weeks gestation āĀ is desperately trying to tank Amendment 4. First, he worked with the Heritage Foundation toĀ add language to the ballot measureĀ implying that relegalizing abortion would have a negative fiscal impact on the state.
Amid that baseless warning, state agencies beganĀ spending public money on TV and radio adsĀ peddling misinformation about the measure, as well as a website that claims Amendment 4 āthreatens womenās safety.ā
Now, DeSantis is trying to keep a cancer patient named Caroline from sharing the story of her abortion, by threatening to criminally prosecute TV stations that carry the Amendment 4 ad featuring her story.
Wow, amazing to see such onerous restrictions on their free speech rights from the Florida government. This truly is a first for olā puddinā fingers.