The ACLU of Florida and Southern Legal Counsel filed a joint lawsuit Thursday against the Agency for Health Care Administration, seeking an order for it to cease efforts on its agency website and other media to persuade voters to oppose Amendment 4.
That’s the proposed constitutional amendment on the November ballot to restore the abortion rights that were available under Roe. v. Wade; it’s sponsored by a group called Floridians Protecting Freedom (FPF). The state now forbids abortions after six-weeks’ gestation with few exceptions. Gov. Ron DeSantis has defended the postings as in the interests of transparency.
The venue for the case is a state trial court in Leon County. The Florida Supreme Court has agreed to expedite a separate petition filed directly with it asking the court to block the DeSantis administration’s campaign against the amendment.
“Under the guise of providing ‘facts’ to the public, the website contains harmful statements that are fundamentally misleading at best, if not outright false. It includes multiple statements that lead only to the conclusion that AHCA is using its official authority or influence for the purpose of interfering with an election, or to influence votes and affect the result of the decision on Amendment 4,” the complaint reads.
“This interference in the democratic process infringes on the political power the people reserved to themselves through Article I, Section 1, and their right to propose amendments to the Florida Constitution through ballot initiative under Article XI, section 3,” it continues.
“Accordingly, this Court should declare that AHCA’s actions violate FPF’s right to propose revisions and amendments to Florida’s Constitution, order AHCA to remove the advertising, materials, and information that violate FPF’s rights, and enjoin AHCA from disseminating such advertising or other materials in the future.”
–Michael Moline, Florida Phoenix
yikes says
yep- I hope there isn’t too much damage with falsehoods to let voters really decide for themselves. With approximately 3,196,663 voters in FL aged 70+, I hope there is some openness to the truth. This is the representation of adults who believe it is their civic duty to vote, and many times vote straight party. https://data.census.gov/profile/Florida?g=040XX00US12 Republicans in FL aged 70-79 are at 51% republican and those 80+ are at 58%. https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2024/04/09/age-generational-cohorts-and-party-identification/
SO VERY IMPORTANT TO GET OUT AND VOTE!!!!!!!
How is it so okay to run these commercials? I don’t remember them for medical marijuana, but now there are here for amendment #3 and #4….
Nephew Of Uncle Sam says
Floridians picking up the cost again because of RonDUH and the GOP meddling in what a majority of Floridians want.
Tom D Hutson says
2nd Lawsuit
The only true reason for the State of Florida Meddling in the Abortion Amendment is the simple fact that Little Mussolini Governor and his Minions are “AFRAID” of the Florida Registered VOTERs. This Little man will not give it up. He will use any issue to stay in step with Daddy Warbucks.
Hey Little Man! Your surrogate daddy stated he supports the ADMENDMENT.