Gabrielle Russon
The group backing an abortion rights initiative is petitioning the Florida Supreme Court to nullify the new “financial impact statement” warning voters about Amendment 4’s implications.
Earlier this month, the Financial Impact Estimating Conference (FIEC) approved a statement set to appear under Amendment 4 on the ballot that alerts voters about potential litigation costs and declining tax revenue if Amendment 4 passes.
“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 statement also says.
Amendment 4 leaders argued the new statement is misleading and isn’t accurate. They accused Republicans of playing dirty political tricks to convince voters to reject it.
In their Supreme Court petition, the group argued that the state lacks the power to “unilaterally revise a Financial Impact Statement and avoid the judicial oversight contemplated by law.” The group pointed out that the professional staff on FIEC was replaced by a senior research fellow from the conservative think tank The Heritage Foundation and a representative from Gov. Ron DeSantis’ Office.
This week the Amendment 4 campaign lost a legal fight when the First District Court of Appeal refused to decide whether the courts could review the validity of the financial impact statement.
“This move throws a wrench in the democratic process and keeps voters from getting the straight facts they need,” said Lauren Brenzel, Yes on 4’s Campaign Director, in an earlier statement.
Now asking the highest court in the state to intervene, the Amendment 4 campaign acknowledges they are up against the clock before the Nov. 5 election.
“And the effects are dire. … Petitioners simply want a fair and accurate presentation of Amendment 4 on the ballot — precious little time remains for effective relief before the election,” said the filing by the ACLU of Florida on behalf of Floridians Protecting Freedom. “Ballot printing deadlines are beginning to approach.”
Amendment 4 protects abortion rights in the state constitution. The November ballot initiative needs at least 60% of the vote to pass. In May, Florida’s six-week abortion ban went into effect.
3 comments
Michael K
July 25, 2024 at 5:30 pm
This governor and his cronies are doing everything to subvert the democratic process and stop an initiative that took the involvement of hundreds of thousands of Floridians to be placed on the ballot.
This is not “freedom,” it’s another autocratic power grab by a governor who does not want women to have control of their own lives.
BONNIE CANNONE
July 26, 2024 at 8:16 pm
Getting those petitions signed was not a “democratic process.” It was millions of dollars poured in by godless billionaires who paid petition gatherers from all over the country to descend on our state and lie to naive people in order to get their signatures. The goal is money and blood. Women already control their own lives. It’s not THEIR life they want to kill, but the helpless, innocent life of their own child. Whatever financial impact is stated, it pales in comparison to the bloodbath that is going to occur if the child sacrifice amendment passes.
BONNIE CANNONE
July 26, 2024 at 8:06 pm
Amendment 4 does not “protect abortion rights” in the Constitution. It is intentionally deceptive in order to usher in abortion for any reason up to birth. Abortion is modern-day child sacrifice – the murder of an innocent human being made in the image of God. Vote NO on 4!
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