The Florida Supreme Court has agreed to expedite a case claiming Governor Ron DeSantis and members of his administration are inappropriately using their roles as government officials to interfere in the vote against Amendment 4—the abortion access proposal that will be on the ballot this November.
In the case, West Palm Beach lawyer Adam Richardson names Governor Ron DeSantis, Attorney General Ashley Moody and Agency for Healthcare Administration Secretary (AHCA) Jason Weida.
Richardson points to a website published recently by AHCA as part of what he calls "a campaign to interfere with the election."
The site says the proposed state constitutional amendment “threatens women’s safety.” But, the amendment's supporters say it’s Florida’s law banning most abortions after six weeks that’s putting women in danger.
“Doctors are afraid right now of going to prison," says Yes on 4 Campaign Director Lauren Brenzel. "They are unable to provide the best medical care possible because of these unworkable so-called exceptions in Florida’s abortion ban.”
Florida’s current law includes an exception to protect the life of the pregnant person, but doctors say it’s unclear how sick a person needs to be before that exception can apply.
In a press call Wednesday with the Yes on 4 campaign, the American Civil Liberties Union announced it also plans to file a lawsuit challenging the Agency for Healthcare Administration's website. The ACLU calls the site a "misuse of taxpayer dollars." AHCA argues the site is part of their "mission to provide information and transparency."
A statement from the Agency For Healthcare Administration reads:
"Our new transparency page serves to educate Floridians on the state’s current abortion laws and provide information on a proposed policy change that would impact care across the state.
It’s puzzling that some in the media would be opposed to the Agency providing facts and information to Floridians about this issue. The law is the law however many in the media have not covered it correctly."
In the statement the agency goes on to list several media articles as examples. The list includes one article written by this reporter.
