Governor Ron DeSantis expressed his disapproval of Amendment 4. for the second consecutive day in Jacksonville, Florida.
During a press conference in Jacksonville on Tuesday morning, DeSantis emphasized that there is no room for second chances once an amendment is enshrined in the Constitution.
What is Amendment 4?
Amendment 4 declares that abortion cannot be prohibited, penalized, delayed, or restricted before viability or when it is necessary for the patient’s health, as determined by their healthcare provider. It is important to note that this amendment does not alter the Legislature’s constitutional power to mandate notification to a parent or guardian when a minor seeks an abortion.
Supporters of Amendment 4 assert the need to vote ‘yes’ in order to overturn Florida’s current abortion laws, which they claim are among the most stringent in the country. They argue that the existing state law in Florida does not permit exceptions in cases of rape, incest, or the health of the baby or the mother. However, Governor DeSantis disputes this claim, stating that it is untrue.
During the press conference, the governor was joined by a group of physicians as he discussed the exceptions to the new law. He emphasized that there are specific circumstances where abortion would still be allowed, such as cases involving rape, incest, human trafficking, and if the child has a fatal fetal abnormality that would prevent their survival.
DeSantis emphasized that Florida’s law is unambiguous. During a press conference in Jacksonville, Governor Ron DeSantis expressed his opposition to Amendment 4.
Governor DeSantis further contended that the approval of Amendment 4 would not only permit abortions to be performed until the point of birth but would also result in taxpayers being compelled to finance these procedures. He emphasized that this proposal constitutes a significant and far-reaching alteration to existing legislation, highlighting the contentious nature of the abortion debate.
In the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade in 2022, seven states have held votes addressing abortion rights. Florida is among the ten states that will be voting on the issue in the upcoming 2024 election.
To become law, Amendment 4 must garner the support of 60 percent of voters.