With its dual rulings on abortion, the Florida Supreme Court delivered Governor Ron DeSantis both a major victory and one of the greatest challenges yet to his legacy as governor. Babies with a heartbeat will be protected starting May 1. However, a constitutional amendment to enshrine all-trimester abortion will appear on the ballot this November.
I was recently in Florida talking with donors about the implications of the ballot measure and Big Abortion’s attack on the states. Rewriting state constitutions is key to the abortion lobby’s national strategy after Dobbs. Out-of-state billionaires and far-left groups like the ACLU and Planned Parenthood are going around the country, picking off pro-life states with deceptive ballot measures that override existing laws to create a right for second- and third-trimester abortion.
But until now, they haven’t had to contend with Ron DeSantis.
DeSantis recently called out the amendment for being too extreme and misleading. This clarity from the governor will be worth more than millions of dollars in deception from the abortion industry, and is an example for every pro-life governor facing an abortion amendment.
At a press conference for a bill signing, the governor said the ballot measure is like a California abortion law which would remove parental consent laws from the books. He also said, “These things cost tens of millions of dollars . . . so somebody’s paying for that and somebody’s going to benefit from that.”
That somebody is Big Abortion. Nearly one-third of the money raised for Florida’s abortion measure comes straight from the abortion industry. Mona Reis, an owner of a large abortion facility in the state, is a key driving force behind the measure, as she and others in the industry stand to realize a major ROI when they can perform abortions at any time, with zero state regulations and without parents standing in their way.
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The millions coming from the abortion industry and the ACLU will center upon one key message: the lie that women will have to leave the state to receive care for a miscarriage or a life-threatening pregnancy complication. In Ohio last year, the pro-abortion side lied 14 times about this during a televised debate. Pro-abortion forces spent a staggering $66.7 million promoting these deceptions, outspending pro-life advocates two to one.
In Florida, CNN is already parroting the abortion lobby’s lie on a “public health crisis,” despite the fact that a small fraction of abortions are for medical reasons, and the heartbeat law contains no fewer than five different exceptions including the mother’s life and a fatal prenatal diagnosis.
If anyone can cut through the lies, DeSantis can.
The truth is, Prop 4 threatens to erase years of progress on life made during the DeSantis administration.
Florida would again become a southeastern sanctuary state for barbaric late-term abortions when babies feel pain. In Ohio, abortion supporters conceded that their amendment failed to define what a “health” reason means, leaving it up to the abortionist who directly profits.
Florida’s law requiring parental consent – not merely notification – for minors before an abortion, which DeSantis signed in 2020 with the support of nearly three quarters of Florida voters, would be eviscerated. The governor recently pointed out the deceptive way the ballot measure mentions parental notification after a minor has had an abortion but eliminates parental consent. “Don’t be fooled though, that is severing the parental consent for minors,” he said.
Prop 4 would also gut health and safety standards that have led the state to shut down abortion facilities that severely injure women. Any “healthcare provider” – not even a doctor – would be free to perform abortions regardless of medical expertise.
Florida has one advantage that Ohio did not: the amendment must get 60 percent of the vote to pass. The state has a Republican voter registration advantage of nearly one million and growing. Passage is not a certainty, even with virtually unlimited money (and paid pro-abortion activists who are willing to cheat). It is a winnable fight – but only if voters really understand what’s at stake and Republicans especially turn out to vote NO.
Gov. DeSantis understands how to win on abortion. By combining clarity, compassion and contrast, DeSantis fended off a challenge from former U.S. Rep. Charlie Crist after signing the 15-week late-term abortion limit into law. DeSantis was clear and unapologetic about his own stance. He showed that Floridians care about women while at the same time humanizing the unborn child. He went on offense to expose the extremism of his opponent, who refused to protect babies even when they are born alive after failed abortions.
While federal candidates who chose the “ostrich strategy” of avoiding the issue suffered heavy losses, DeSantis won re-election by nearly 20 points.
With the support of 62 percent of Florida voters, DeSantis then signed the Heartbeat Protection Act, which also allocated $25 million immediately for the state’s pregnancy centers to serve more moms during pregnancy and beyond. In his presidential campaign, DeSantis defended heartbeat protections against critics in the media and in his own party.
Right now, pro-abortion Democrats wrongly believe they have an unbeatable formula, with abortion as the silver bullet that will save them from an unpopular incumbent and failed administration. President Biden rolled out a “seven-figure” ad campaign and an abortion tour with his latest stop in Florida this week. Hillary Clinton weighed in, as did DeSantis’ nemesis in California, Governor Gavin Newsom. But as DeSantis says, Florida isn’t California. In their overconfidence, seizing on a bombastic goal of flipping Florida may prove a big mistake.
This moment poses DeSantis’ greatest opportunity yet – to save lives and defeat the Left. As the governor says, Florida is “where woke goes to die” and with his help, it will be where Big Abortion’s plans die too.
Marjorie Dannenfelser is president of Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America. Follow her on X @marjorieSBA.
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