by Mary Lou Masters
Planned Parenthood is planning on launching a ballot measure initiative to roll back Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ newly-signed six-week abortion ban, according to Politico.
DeSantis signed a bill April 16 to protect the lives of the unborn after six weeks gestation with exceptions in cases of rape, incest and human trafficking, or when the mother’s life is in danger. Planned Parenthood, a pro-abortion advocacy group, is attempting to curb the governor’s efforts by attempting to create a ballot initiative allowing for abortions until fetal viability, according to Politico.
“Floridians know what is best for their own bodies and their own lives,” Sarah Standiford, the group’s national campaigns director, told Politico. “People are ready to vote for reproductive freedom and to take back power from lawmakers who have literally gone against the will of the people.”
Planned Parenthood will spend millions on their initiative, where they seek to garner 890,000 signatures by February 2023 in hopes to get the measure on the ballot in 2024, according to Politico. The measure intends on returning the power to the mother’s health care provider to determine when the fetus is viable, which is typically 24 weeks gestation.
The pro-abortion group, that’s already started to fundraise, is teaming up with other organizations, like Florida’s American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and Florida Rising, which advocate for the LGBTQ community, abortion rights, criminal justice reform and other social issues, according to Politico.
“We know that Floridians overwhelmingly support safe, legal and accessible abortion care. They don’t believe that politicians or lawmakers should make decisions — especially personal decisions — about their health care or their body,” said Moné Holder of the activist organization Florida Rising.
The initiative faces an uphill battle in an increasingly conservative state, as it would need to gain approval from the state’s Supreme Court, as well as signatures from a minimum of half of Florida’s congressional districts, according to Politico. The measure would also have to gain 60% of the vote on the ballot to be enacted.
Planned Parenthood did not immediately respond to the Daily Caller News Foundation’s requests for comment.
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Mary Lou Masters is a reporter at Daily Caller News Foundation.
Photo “Governor Ron DeSantis” by Governor Ron DeSantis. Background Photo “Planned Parenthood in St. Paul” by Fibonacci Blue. CC BY 2.0.
