Gabrielle Russon
A group targeting Hispanic voters knocked on 100,000 doors in Osceola County in the hopes of building momentum for an upcoming abortion rights ballot initiative.
The canvasses are out for what is expected to be a tight election in the citizen-led effort to protect abortion rights that would likely overturn the state’s six-week abortion ban.
“Essentially, we tried to reach every single registered voter in the county, showcasing our commitment to educating every Floridian about Amendment 4, regardless of party affiliation, race, gender or voting history,” said Devon Murphy-Anderson, Mi Vecino’s co-founder.
To pass, Amendment 4 needs at least 60% of the vote. And so far, the campaign is facing steep opposition from Republicans in control of Florida’s state government.
This week, Amendment 4 advocates decried what they saw as political tricks when a state panel revised a 150-word “financial impact statement” that will be printed under the ballot question.
The statement warns about uncertainty over the state being required to fund abortions with public money and says tax revenue could drop if Amendment 4 passes.
“The proposed amendment would result in significantly more abortions and fewer live births per year in Florida. The increase in abortions could be even greater if the amendment invalidates laws requiring parental consent before minors undergo abortions and those ensuring only licensed physicians perform abortions,” the financial impact statement also says.
The Financial Impact Estimating Conference is normally a mundane discussion between economists without political fireworks. But with Amendment 4, the group debated for hours until the majority approved the financial statement.
In an unusual move, showing the divisiveness of abortion, a representative from Gov. Ron DeSantis and a staff member from the conservative think tank The Heritage Foundation seized control of the discussion to approve the financial impact statement. They said they expected costly and dragged-out litigation if Amendment 4 passes, and that voters deserved to know it would likely cost the state.
As the two sides battle over persuading the public ahead of the November election, both are building up their war chests.
Florida Voters Against Extremism, the committee opposing Amendment 4, has raised $1.38 million so far, according to the last campaign finance reports.
Most of the money was raised this month with House Speaker Paul Renner’s political committee, Conservatives for Principled Leadership, giving $1 million and the Archdiocese of Miami giving $129,037.
“We urge all Floridians of goodwill to stand against the legalization of late-term abortion and oppose the abortion amendment. In doing so, we will not only protect the weakest, most innocent, and defenseless of human life among us but also countless women throughout the state from the harms of abortion,” according to a statement from the Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops.
Meanwhile, Floridians Protecting Freedom, the group sponsoring Amendment 4, has raised $38.78 million in total through mostly grassroots support.
The vast majority of 1,155 donors gave $500 or less, according to the latest filing covering June 29 to July 5 where the group raised about $509,000. Only 27 organizations or people gave $1,000 and upward. The biggest donations were $250,000 from Planned Parenthood of Orange County, California and $100,000 from the progressive Movement Voter PAC.
Reproduction rights advocates say the six-week ban means most women don’t even know they’re pregnant or find out later in their pregnancy that their unborn children have devastating complications.
“Floridians want government out of their exam rooms because politicians are never more qualified to make personal healthcare decisions than women and their doctors,” Yes on 4 Campaign Director Lauren Brenzel said in a statement this week.
