Jesse Scheckner
Miami Beach Republican Rep. Fabián Basabe, who skipped a vote Thursday passing a divisive measure that would cut the threshold for abortion in Florida from 15 to six weeks, wants to clarify he was for giving women twice that amount of time.
The reason the House didn’t pass a 12-week ban instead, he said, is because Democrats — who hold just 30% of the seats in either chamber — were unwilling to work with GOP lawmakers.
“I would like to make clear I am personally pro-choice up to 12 weeks with exceptions and am very concerned for the lack of respect for life — that is, of all the other lives involved in the decision to end a life,” he said in a statement shared with Florida Politics.
“The issue today is that the majority of this House, vocally pro-life, had come to the direction of the minority of this House, vocally pro-choice, to create a compromise to avoid a total abortion ban, which went against their beliefs. But after coming to each Democratic member directly, none of you were allowed to propose anything but the extreme.
“Some House Democrats were personally amenable to this opportunity, but it simply does not work with their leadership nor political agendas as a caucus. You basically want it all or nothing, and people be damned.”
He continued, “Today, I see, and everyone else does as well, that by ‘equality’ you mean all the chips on your minority side and none on the majority one. You know, this thinking might just be the reason we are, in fact, the majority. Because (no) one likes bullies.
“In arriving at this result, believe it or not, the Republican Party was the only party that has actually fought for choice. They understood that taxpayer dollars are involved and that the world we live in is bigger than their personal beliefs.
“I came to you and offered the common ground of 12 weeks with exceptions if the House was together as one and you said NO. So, thank you, Democrats, for forcing six weeks down our throats and that of an entire state! It could have been 12!
“You did not budget, not one day, not one minute … And for that, I shame you. Shame on you for not holding every life dear and valuable even after the majority turned a blind eye (to) your disregard of the fact that it takes two people to create a life, and you advocate for the right of only one to destroy it.”
After more than seven hours of deliberation, the Florida House voted 70-40 for the measure (SB 300), during which the chamber’s GOP supermajority uniformly rejected numerous amendments from its Democratic colleagues.
Just nine Republican lawmakers voted no in either chamber — Sens. Alexis Calatayud and Corey Simon, and Reps. Mike Caruso, Karen Gonzalez Pittman, Peggy Gossett-Seidman, Sam Killebrew, Chip LaMarca, Vicki Lopez and Rick Roth.
Ten lawmakers, including Basabe, did not vote on the bill, which upon receiving Gov. Ron DeSantis’ signature will reduce the allowable period for an abortion for the second time in less than a year and a half.
Before the March 2022 passage of HB 5, which set the current 15-week deadline with no exceptions for rape or incest, Florida granted those thinking of terminating their pregnancies up to 24 weeks.
SB 300 provides for a quarter of that time, which experts have said isn’t long enough for many women to know they’re pregnant unless they’re actively trying to conceive. The bill also allows abortion up to 15 weeks in cases of rape and incest, but not statutory rape, and up to 24 weeks if the mother’s life is at risk or there is a fetal abnormality.
Basabe said he’d spoken with representatives from Planned Parenthood who told him 12 weeks was “acceptable” when paired with the exceptions included in SB 300.
Planned Parenthood, the largest single provider of abortions in the U.S. and among its most vocal defenders, said no such conversation ever happened in which the nonprofit said 12 weeks was acceptable and that the group has never supported abortion restrictions in Florida.
A spokesperson for House Democrats similarly denied members of the party expressed amenability to a 12-week threshold.
Laura Goodhue, executive director of the Florida Alliance of Planned Parenthood Affiliates, said in a statement that Planned Parenthood has “consistently told legislators that any abortion ban is unacceptable, including when we met with Rep. Basabe.”
“This abortion ban, like the ban currently in place, violates Floridians’ freedom to decide what is best for their own bodies and lives,” she said. “Planned Parenthood supported the multiple amendments introduced yesterday aimed at harm reduction, which Rep. Basabe voted against: amendments to fix the exceptions in the bill, an amendment to fund rape crisis centers, an amendment to remove the mandatory two appointment requirement, and others.
“It’s clear that Rep. Basabe doesn’t know where to stand on the issue of government interference and reproductive health care. But we do. Planned Parenthood is not and has never wavered in our opposition to attacks on reproductive health care and our patients.”
Basabe indicated that if he were to have cast a vote, it would have been against the bill, but added that he will “not negotiate life.”
“I will not vote against the only members that came to the table of compromise and I will not give my vote to a party that has no intentions of compromise,” he said. “I vow to continue my efforts to bring us together. Amazingly, I still believe it’s possible.”
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Editor’s note: This report has been updated to include a comment from the Florida Alliance of Planned Parenthood Affiliates and Florida House Democrats.
52 comments
JD
April 13, 2023 at 9:06 pm
Are you f@cking kidding me? This bill is cruel. There’s a slew of conditions the bill ignores and makes it not only an emotional turmoil for women, but dangerous.
F@ck the FLGOP. The cruelest people on earth.
And then to try and project and play like they are the victim?
Shameful. March on the FL capital. Block the intersections. Rise up. There is a reason all the Civil rights movements started in the South.
“It’s not the heat, it’s the stupidity”
Oscar
April 13, 2023 at 9:25 pm
Is he inaccurate, JD? Identify one thing Democrats did to scale back the gestational age requirement. Give us the amendment number and who filed it.
JD
April 13, 2023 at 9:50 pm
Yes, he is inaccurate. He’s proposing a strawman.
He could have voted no if he had any morality. Instead, he skipped the vote because he didn’t want to be alienated by his tribe and zero backbone.
And now he wants to cast blame in trying to say the Democrats didn’t do enough? They wouldn’t have had to do anything. This wasn’t a problem until the FLGOP made it one. Hypocrisy.
Why even mess with 15-week ban? Or the 24 weeks of the last 50 years?
He should point that finger at himself and his SHAMEFUL tribe of the FLGOP.
Sam
April 13, 2023 at 10:20 pm
Give us the amendment number for even just 1 amendment a Democrat filed to scaled back the 6-week ban in favor of a more liberal one? Is he correct when he says democrats refused to compromise on the timeframe?
JD
April 13, 2023 at 11:28 pm
More deflection from the SHAMEFUL FLGOP for even filing a horrible and unneeded bill and then trying to say the Democrats didn’t do their job. Strawman Sam.. Why should they have too to file admendments? Address the inadequacies of the bill in the first place, not blaming someone else for the GOPs failures. Trying to trap someone in false logic is BS and you know it.
Hank
April 13, 2023 at 11:50 pm
Sam- JD isn’t answering your question because his real name is Jason Pizzo and he also did nothing to scale back the 6-week ticking clock created by the bill
JD
April 14, 2023 at 12:43 am
Hank, nope. Not Senator Pizzo. Just a concerned citizen that’s had enough. The democrats should not have to make an admendment for the Republican draconian Handmaiden law. To blame them for not having and admendment is like a crazy person that takes a crap and the middle of the church floor and then blames the congregation for not making them go use the bathroom.
todd
April 14, 2023 at 9:49 am
They gave 48 amendments last night. All 48 were given 2.5 minutes to be explained, asked questions, and debated. None were asked one questions by republican and none passed. The reason, if even one amendment was passed they would have had to send the whole bill back to the senate and Desantis would have had to wait another week. And if you really want me to look through all 48 amendments I will, because they did offer a 10 week amend and a 12 week one.
Sam
April 14, 2023 at 7:24 am
Tell us exactly which statement of Basabe’s is false, JD. Asking you to give facts that refute Basabe’s comments is not a “straw man” tactic, it’s asking you to give just one thread of support for your conclusory statements. So which statement(s) did he make that is not true?
JD
April 14, 2023 at 8:08 am
The argument from Basabe may be accurate, but it is a fallacy. It is like he is trying to apply comparative negligence to the Democrats for an accident, when it’s clearly the Republicans fault, when they were driving the vehicle.
“Yes, your honor, they were stopped in the middle of the roadway and should not have been. That’s why I plowed into them”. BS, the Republicans hit them in the rear end while traffic was stopped. Even if the Democrats could seem them rolling up on them in the rearview mirror.
Then to ask for “FACTS” when he clearly knows he was too much of wimp to vote no was wrong to try and deflect blame? SHAMEFUL.
cassandra
April 14, 2023 at 10:55 am
You appear to to be confused. The Republican majority did not need Democratic legislators’ votes or their permission to pass a twelve week ban (or no ban). They did not need an Amendment from Democrats. To suggest otherwise shows you lack understanding of the legislative process.
The Republican Majority rejected over fifty Democratic Amendment proposals. And, despite now admitting that they wanted a twelve week ban (not six), bowed to the governor’s demands rather than face DeSantis’ wrath and inevitable retaliation.
Cowards. Vote them out.
Joel
April 14, 2023 at 7:53 am
The framing here is just insane. Are Republicans blaming Democrats for not doing more to stop them?? From the Democrats POV, it makes perfect sense. Never interrupt your opponent when they’re making a mistake. These extremely restrive abortions bans are backfiring on the GOP across the nation. DeSantis made just made himself unelectable in a presidential general election.
Tia
April 14, 2023 at 10:36 am
When you’re an elected official responsible for representing your community’s best interests, you always have a duty to “interrupt” those whom you believe are intruding on the fundamental rights of others.
cassandra
April 14, 2023 at 11:58 am
The Democrats presented fifty plus amendment proposals. The Republican Majority rejected every one of them. Shame on Republicans for voting against the interests of Florida women, girls, and families.
Vote out the REPUBLICAN COWARDS.
Anna D
April 14, 2023 at 12:06 pm
Oscar I’ll answer that question since everyone else is dodging it.
No. Nobody filed any amendments that would have provided for a more mature gestational age requirement than 6 weeks (estimated). Neither Republicans or Democrats. Democrats filed a lot of cheeky amendments and are doing a lot of grandstanding now, but the facts surrounding passage of the ban are clear in voting records and amendment filing history. They did nothing to get a compromise in the original proposal. They might claim they tried behind the scenes, but we all know the result of those efforts. We have a lot of ineffective people representing us in Tallahassee.
cassandra
April 14, 2023 at 6:06 pm
See comment: todd at April 14, 2023 at 9:49 am about the proposed amendments rejected by the Republican Majority
No logic in your comment! Democrats/women should happily compromise away their own rights gradually over multiple sessions? LOL.. Let the MEN/Republicans compromise UP *WOMEN’S* rights instead.
Maybe you don’t understand, but the Republicans, as the majority, did not need Democratic permission, votes, amendments, anything.
They passed the six week ban that DeSantis promised the Religious Right during the 2018 debates.The drooling cowards bowed to the governor’s demands rather than face DeSantis’ wrath and his inevitable retaliation. (See Disney, Warren, school boards etc)
Cowards. Vote them out.
cassandra
April 14, 2023 at 11:27 pm
My 6pm comment is still with the moderators.
In the meantime: I do not want my rep or senator compromising away my rights. I want them out fighting the crazed religious extremists who believe they have a god-given right to insert themselves into women’s bodies and lives.
Sal
April 15, 2023 at 9:02 am
The fact that you do not capitalize the “G” in God says more about you than your frenetic posts on this article. I hope no Senator or Rep ever listens to you. Politicians acting like the other party is the “enemy” all the time is why we are here. That is not conducive to problem solving. It’s just plain rebellion. Guess you could try it and see how that goes. My speculation is, you already have.
cassandra
April 14, 2023 at 1:00 pm
We do need marches and other disruptions. Economic boycotts as well. Democratic leaders need to organize and lead on this. At least in the beginning. There are examples to follow in the American Civil Rights movement and throughout the world. American women and men who support them cannot be silent any longer as the religious Right drags women backwards through the centuries.
Tim
April 14, 2023 at 2:12 pm
You sound a little nuts
JD
April 14, 2023 at 2:18 pm
She sounds like she’s tired of religious zealots dictating policy that affects everyone.
The subject should have been one of public health and not just a simplistic and single religious morality stroke.
The issue is far far more complex than “you’re killing babies” thought process. But again, thinking isn’t the GQP’s strong point.
“It’s not the heat, it’s the stupidity.”
Tim
April 14, 2023 at 2:35 pm
Wow you replied within just 6 minutes of my comment to “Cassandra.” Either you are sitting around with nothing to do but hitting the “refresh” button on this one article, or you received notification of my response directly because “Cassandra” and “JD” are the same person.
Either way your comments suddenly have a contextual backdrop that allows me to pity you.
JD
April 14, 2023 at 6:13 pm
Or the logical reason, I opened up the page and read your comment 6 minutes after you posted it because I was reading a response to on of my earlier comments.
Save your pity.
Tim
April 14, 2023 at 6:41 pm
Oh yeah, sure. Seems logical.
Especially since by that time, you had already replied to each prior comment submitted in response to yours.
Lizzie M
April 15, 2023 at 9:19 am
Economic boycotts? Nah. That’s not solving anything. We just need more backbone in our state Capitol.
cassandra
April 15, 2023 at 12:53 pm
Interesting…what kind of timeline are you looking at for government to give women their human rights back?
Economic boycotts are VERY effective. They were essential in the Civil Rights movement and in ending South African Apartheid. Boycotts also make it possible for more people to get involved.
BTW The protests to end government violations of women’s and girls’ human rights are being watched internationally.
John Dough
April 15, 2023 at 4:58 pm
As evidenced by your unwavering devotion to commenting on Florida Politics articles, instead of getting out there and doing what you insist will be effective…
Just Karen
April 15, 2023 at 10:02 am
Yeah we could also get a large group together and wave magic wands over the updated statute books while running in place. I don’t think it would make a difference in the outcome but we sure could get some interesting media attention from that strategy. It’s not so different from what democrats are doing now.
Billy the Bamboozler McBuzzard
April 13, 2023 at 9:12 pm
Hundreds of thousands of disordered meth babies and crack babies with bad genes will be unleashed among a population already tattered by bad genetics. This hoard of criminal mutants will make conservatives lives hell on earth. Enjoy the army of psychos coming for the religious whackos that made it all possible.
Tisha
April 15, 2023 at 10:59 am
That’s actually an excellent point. The abortion ban means we’ll just have a lot more ignorant democrats roaming the streets. Sigh. Now I’m scared.
Billy the Bamboozler McBuzzard
April 19, 2023 at 10:05 am
That’s a myth that it’s mostly Democrats who commit crime, do drugs, and get abortions. Criminals don’t usually have a political orientation or care one way or the other. Two, I know just as many conservatives whose kids do drugs. Third, rural red state sub-apes get knocked up and abort at the same rate as those in cities. Talk about ignorance, you must have gone to Mike Lindell Highschool followed by Trump University.
Ron DeSantis Sucks
April 13, 2023 at 9:22 pm
Just like a Republican to gaslight everyone. “Look at what the Democrats are making me do!”
PH
April 13, 2023 at 9:35 pm
Just like Democrats to make the biggest soap opera out of an abortion ban instead of focusing on issues that affect honest people. Why is that, anyway? Do democrats not care about the sanctity of life or family values?
Or maybe the answer is more about their personal lives than political ones. Anyone else notice how many democrats seem to have lost their wedding rings lately?
Hmmm.
Sam
April 13, 2023 at 9:46 pm
You mean like the ones who got “arrested” a few weeks ago for some lame demonstration about abortion? They do seem to focus more on women being able to have convenient abortions than anything else. Maybe you’re onto something.
JD
April 13, 2023 at 9:56 pm
Let’s have some more deflection from the SHAMEFUL FLGOP for not only reaching into a woman’s privacy but also not having adequate allowances for stuff like PROM or ectopic in this bill.
Sam
April 13, 2023 at 10:09 pm
It’s not deflection, it’s a possible explanation
JD
April 13, 2023 at 10:16 pm
It sounds far more like a deflective assumption than an explanation.
Acid Head Ed 👍
April 13, 2023 at 9:52 pm
Publix grocery stores 2021-2022
$54 billion in sales
$14 billion in profits
only $205 million in wages.
Republicans will be the last to bring any kind of economic mobility to Florida. Even the minimum wage increases are insufficient. Republicans only shovel mountains of money to the rich and throw people in to jail for as long as humanly possible so don’t hand us that crap. They don’t address any issues worth addressing.. only banning things.🤡
Joe
April 13, 2023 at 10:28 pm
EVERYONE has noticed. A few in particular. Probably all freaking out that it won’t be so easy to hide their extracurricular activities anymore!
Seriously Stupid
April 13, 2023 at 10:39 pm
We all know who. No need to embarrass them. Then they’d know we are all talking about them in group chats during committee meetings and session when they think none of us notice their flirtatious behavior or suddenly bare left hands
Tom
April 13, 2023 at 9:23 pm
If I get some chick pregnant and don’t mean to.. and she was just a lay with little other qualities..I will have to execute this woman instead. Thanks Ron and the rich..who can still get abortions easily.
Marty Friedman
April 13, 2023 at 9:46 pm
Not a single one of the Republicans who voted down on SB 300 voted up on any of the amendments. None took the floor to explain why SB 300 should be voted down. They think their token vote is going to appease their constituents. Big deal, cowards. Not impressed. You should have just voted yes.
Lorena Sevilla
April 13, 2023 at 11:00 pm
typical sociopath. Basurabe always blames others for his faults. he should have had the courage to stand and vote against this cruel and misogynous bill.
Beth
April 14, 2023 at 5:36 am
Badabe is scared pathetic fool. Tok scared to go against dictator Ronnie so he skips the vote and blames the democrats. Vote the useless fool out.
mike kelley
April 14, 2023 at 12:34 pm
Wow, talk about gaslighting. Democrats, it’s YOUR FAULT that Republicans passed this terrible bill that the majority of Americans disagree with!
cassandra
April 14, 2023 at 1:24 pm
But..Look at what the Democrats were wearing! They wanted it!!
Conservatism is a Mental Disorder
April 14, 2023 at 1:39 pm
This guy needs to see a psychologist. He’s obviously delusional and very, very sick in the head.
Gary
April 14, 2023 at 2:27 pm
Can everyone just stop blaming someone else and start working on a plan to get the bill overturned already? Writing comments back and forth all day diverts energy from problem-solving. Get to work on a solution and stop crying about what someone in the other party did or didn’t do. The abortion ban is now law. All the finger-pointing does nothing to reverse it.
Real leadership does not stoop to this level of blame shifting or inciting chaos. We need leaders who can bring people together by solution-oriented actions, not who further divide us through their accusatory rhetoric and political messaging.
Just Karen
April 15, 2023 at 10:30 am
100%. Who has the balls and brains to get this in front of a judge before it’s too late?
Read The Bills
April 14, 2023 at 4:55 pm
Rep Antone file amendment #771003 that offerred 16 weeks. Perhaps if this rep stayed in his seat and did his job he would have known this!
J Dub
April 15, 2023 at 12:12 am
Look at the bright side, everyone: now there is a powerful white man telling women what to do with their bodies more often than the hip-hop radio stations we all pretend to be offended by. I’m already copywriting a pair of “Keeping Florida Free” knee pads for next year when this really hits the fan, y’all.
Dan
April 18, 2023 at 11:57 am
Republicans have a supermajority in Tallahassee, how are democrats supposed to stop this!? This guy is a liar and fraud. He campaigned as pro-choice, pro gay rights in one of the most lgbt friendly districts in south florida and then voted against choice and gay rights. He’s just another Republican liar and fraud. That whole party is full of scumbags.
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