Former president Trump's Florida allies are against the abortion amendment as he weighs his vote.
Florida is considering adding a constitutional amendment to protect the right to abortion.
Florida allies of former President Trump are discussing their voting stance on an abortion ballot question in the November election following the Trump campaign's statement that he has not yet made a decision on his position.
Florida's Amendment 4 safeguards the right to an abortion by prohibiting any law from restricting or penalizing it before viability or when it's necessary for the patient's health, as determined by their healthcare provider.
The amendment does not alter the Legislature's constitutional power to mandate notification to a parent or guardian prior to a minor undergoing an abortion.
A reporter asked Trump, who resides in Florida, how he would vote on Thursday.
He stated that he would vote for more than six weeks.
Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America president Marjorie Dannenfelser quickly issued a statement, stating that President Trump has always been against abortions after five months of pregnancy. Amendment 4 would permit abortion beyond this timeframe. Voting for Amendment 4 contradicts his stance.
"She stated that we strongly support Florida's current heartbeat law. If someone disagrees with the line being drawn, they must vote against Amendment 4 unless they don't want any line at all. Amendment 4 would permanently enshrine unlimited abortion in the state constitution, preventing the Florida legislature from making any changes."
Dannenfelser spoke with Trump Thursday night.
She stated that he has not yet decided how he will vote on Amendment 4.
Trump's campaign also issued a statement after his remark.
Spokesperson Karoline Leavitt stated that President Trump has not yet disclosed his stance on the Florida ballot initiative and only reiterated his belief that six weeks is an insufficient timeframe.
Florida Republican Senator Marco Rubio's office informed Planet Chronicle Digital that he will vote against the amendment that would protect abortion rights in the state constitution. A spokesperson directed Planet Chronicle Digital to an April interview where the senator expressed his stance.
The core of my challenge is that I believe the fundamental right from which all other rights arise is the right to live, the right of a human being to live. In the context of abortion, this right to live conflicts with a woman's right to choose. As a result, public policy must prioritize either the right to live or the right to choose. This is a difficult decision for many people, and I understand their struggle. However, for me, I will always choose life.
Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., stated to Planet Chronicle Digital that he believes abortion policy should be handled by state legislatures rather than being included in the constitution.
When asked by Planet Chronicle Digital, representatives for Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., and Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., and Byron Donalds, R-Fla., did not respond with a comment on their voting plans in time for publication.
Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis' office declined to comment but directed Planet Chronicle Digital to an outside campaign against the amendment, which is run by allies of the governor. Taryn Fenske, a representative for the Vote No On 4 Florida campaign, responded to Trump's tweet on X.
""Amendment 4 would permit late-term abortions, eliminate parental consent, and enable taxpayer-funded abortions. It's an extreme measure that must be defeated," she wrote."
DeSantis has publicly opposed the amendment in the past.
The amendment's opponents argue that its ambiguous language could allow for elective abortion throughout a woman's pregnancy, as determined by clinic employees, rather than just doctors. Additionally, the amendment does not specify what viability is, which is typically defined as around 20-25 weeks, leaving more room for interpretation.
The amendment would not affect the legislature's authority to require parents to be informed about a minor's abortion, but it would remove the requirement for parental consent. Critics argue that this effectively overturns current parental consent laws.
Planet Chronicle Digital's request for comment from the Trump campaign was not immediately responded to.
politics
You might also like
- Speaker Johnson faces opposition from Republicans in political statement.
- UN agency funding restoration bill backed by Dem lawmakers: 'Absolutely necessary'
- GOP candidate gains ground on Sen. Tammy Baldwin in Wisconsin, according to consecutive polls.
- A Republican official from a swing state denounced any involvement in a pornography scandal and dismissed it as "sensationalized gossip."
- The former head of Border Patrol criticizes the Biden administration for allegedly concealing information about migrants with suspected links to terrorism.