WASHINGTON, D.C. - Florida Democratic lawmakers reaffirmed their opposition to Amendment 4, the ballot measure that would restrict abortion access in the state, calling the measure 'restrictive' and 'extreme' as voters decide on reproductive rights on November's ballot. They also blamed Governor Ron DeSantis' pivot from a 15-week ban to a 6-week ban as the trigger for the Amendment 4 initiative, which could very well pass in November even though evidence of fraud has been found in the petition process.
"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) 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."
The Floridian also spoke to two Democratic members of Florida's congressional delegation and asked them if Gov. DeSantis' 6-week abortion ban helped spur on the ballot initiative.
Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D), who is arguably the greatest proponent of a woman's right to choose in the U.S. House of Representatives, said that Gov. DeSantis' "extreme ban" pushed the initiative along even though the petition drive had already started.
"They were already starting the petition drive, but when he [DeSantis] went to the most extreme ban that essentially makes abortion access nearly impossible, even in situations like Deborah Norberg, who had no amniotic fluid after 20ish weeks after the 15-week ban, she was unable to have an abortion when her baby was going to be born without kidneys and had no possibility of life being sustained outside the womb, died in her arms two hours after birth, and she was forced to carry the baby to term because of the 15-week abortion ban," said U.S. Rep Debbie Wasserman Schultz in a interview with The Floridian.
"Then we went to six weeks, and with Roe being overturned. Women in Florida had a constitutional right to privacy that included controlling decisions about our own bodies for 35 years, and Ron DeSantis and his MAGA extremists yanked it away from women," Wasserman Schultz continued. 'That's why Democrats, NPAs, and Republicans came together to put in on the ballot and now we need to pass it."
When asked about her position on abortion being on the ballot in many states, including Florida, as a result of the U.S. Supreme Court overturning Roe vs. Wade, Wasserman Schultz said that having an abortion should not be predicated on where the individual resides.
"Your rights to make decisions about your own body should not be dependent on where you live, your geographical location, or your address," Wasserman Schultz added. "Everyone has equal rights in this country, and the right to make decisions about your own body should not be dependent on where you live."
Freshman Congressman Maxwell Frost also believes that DeSantis's signing of the 6-week abortion ban in Florida fanned the abortion flames.
"I mean that definitely pushed people to do it. There was always talk about codifying it anyway because this was going around in different states. But when I think he [DeSantis] took that step, and when you get to six weeks it's pretty much almost a total abortion ban," U.S. Rep. Maxwell Alejandro Frost, D-Fla., said. "Most women don't know at that time, and that's what I think really pushed people to say let's get this on the ballot, we need this now."
We then asked Rep. Frost how he felt about the previous 15-week ban DeSantis replaced.
"We weren't okay with it, but I think it's easier to manage that higher number than a six-week for sure," he added.
State Rep. Chip LaMarca recently said that Democrats wouldn't be happy any abortion ban time period.
"None of them were happy with it when we passed it (15 week ban)," said Rep. LaMarca, adding that Democrats argued that "anyone that voted for it was against choice and against rational thought."
Will the ballot measure pass?
According to the latest public opinion poll taken on the issue, 55% of likely Florida voters said they would support 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.
With Amendment 4 appearing to gain traction, DeSantis has decided to lace up his boots and and pour state resources into combatting the measure.
While Democrats cry foul that using taxpayer dollars to boost awareness to the initiative, DeSantis insists that his actions are above board.
His chief of staff James Uthmeier has even taken the reigns over at the political action committee set up to challenge the amendment.
“It’s not a campaign issue — it’s a fight for what is right, just, and true,” Uthmeier said on the social media platform X last week.
Again, in order for the ballot measure to pass, 60% of Floridians need to cast their ballots in favor of it November 5.
Publisher Javier Manjarres contributed to this article
