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'Intentionally deceptive': DeSantis campaigns against Amendment 4

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Published  October 21, 2024 9:55am EDT
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    CORAL GABLES, Fla. - Governor Ron DeSantis held a campaign news conference from Coral Gables on Monday, arguing against Amendment 4, which will appear on the ballot in the upcoming 2024 election.

    Abortion has long been a hotbed political issue that draws impassioned opinions from both ends of the political spectrum.

    DeSantis argued that Amendment 4's language is "intentionally deceptive" and that the campaign rhetoric surrounding it has been misleading.

    READ MORE: Amendment 4: Here’s what it means to Florida voters

    Supporters of Amendment 4 say that its passage codifies a woman’s right to choose and stops state interference in making medical decisions for women.

    DeSantis critiqued the political rhetoric surrounding the Amendment 4 debate. 

    He says those making the argument that voting against Amendment 4 would invite the government into the doctor's office are ignoring current Florida law that says abortions are allowed in the cases of rape, incest, and the health of the mother or child. 

    Florida's current law, signed by Governor DeSantis, restricts abortion to the first six weeks of pregnancy. Amendment 4 would permanently repeal that law.

    READ MORE: Bay Area voters head to the polls on Monday as early voting gets underway

    Voting ‘yes’ on Amendment 4 supports adding the following language to Florida’s Constitution:

    DeSantis laid out a series of the "lowlights" of Amendment 4 and described the language as "intentionally vague."

    DeSantis argued the passage of Amendment 4 would eliminate parents' rights and eliminate the need to have a doctor involved in performing an abortion. Instead, anyone considered a "health care provider" could perform an abortion, according to DeSantis.

    READ MORE: The Florida Amendments

    "Different people have different views regarding the right to life or not," Desantis said, but "it is a real radical change to say you don’t have to be a licensed physician to perform an abortion."

    DeSantis also argued that the passage of Amendment 4 does not offer specific enough language on what defines the "viability" of a baby’s life and that if Amendment 4 becomes law, it will eventually lead to tax-payer-funded abortions in Florida.

    Seven states have voted on abortion rights since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022. Florida is one of ten states voting on abortion rights in the 2024 election.

    Amendment 4 needs to receive 60 percent support from voters to become law.

    Lieutenant Governor Jeanette Nuñez joined the Governor, as did six doctors who all spoke against the passage of Amendment 4.

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