TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis warned against the dangers of Amendment 4, the measure that would enshrine abortion access in the state, as being "built on fraud" and a "bait and switch" that lacks clear definition on Monday.
"The whole thing is built on fraud. If you read that amendment, they don't define any of the terms that are in the amendment. Not one definition is written into that amendment," DeSantis said at a press conference.
Specifically, DeSantis warned Amendment 4 would allow any healthcare provider, not just a licensed physician, to OK an abortion until the moment of birth if passed under Florida's constitution.
"The physician doesn't have to be a part of it under this amendment. How crazy is that to say you don't even have to be a doctor and right medical training and you could greenlight abortion," DeSantis said.
DeSantis also emphasized Amendment Four would only require notification, and not consent by a parent, for a child to have an abortion, calling the deceptive language a "bait and switch."
"That's rolling back rights for parents in the state of Florida. You will not have the right to consent. In anything else your minor child does in terms of anything having to do with medical, the parent would have to consent," DeSantis said.
While DeSantis looks to drive home on messaging, Florida Democrats have called the state's abortion limits 'restrictive' and 'extreme'. They also blamed DeSantis for pivoting from the state's 15-week to 6-week ban, which party leaders say triggered the initiative on November's ballot.
"The restrictive bans imposed by the legislature and the governor have forced the amendment to exist so that women have a right to choose and have our time over their bodies," Florida Sen. Democratic Leader Lauren Book (D-Davie) said in a statement to The Floridian. "I think that's accurate. A six-week ban is not in line with what the people of Florida want and so we're giving the power back to the people with Amendment 4."
In order for Amendment 4 to be baked into Florida's Constitution, the measure needs to receive 60% of the overall vote on election day. According to the latest public opinion poll taken on the issue, 55% of likely Florida voters said they would support Amendment 4.
DeSantis added the measure could have strong repercussions if ok'd by Florida voters.
"What is going to happen is that will create a lot of bootleg abortion clinics around the state. We're in a region of the country where almost every state that borders us has very strong pro-life legislation. "You're going to have people coming, and there's going to be a lot of people who take advantage and people are going to make money off of this," DeSantis said.
