Pro-choice activists in Tampa, Florida. Credit: Photo by Dave Decker
Ever since he realized that fucking with women’s rights is bad for business, Donald Trump has tried to make the argument that he simply helped the Supreme Court of the United States let states decide on abortion access.

The fact of the matter is that women, and anyone with reproductive capabilities, shouldn’t have to travel to get health care if their home state decides a ban is in order.

If passed, Amendment 4—read the full ballot language below—would nullify Florida’s six-week abortion ban starting Jan. 7, 2025.

See all of CL’s ballot recommendations on our 2024 general election landing page.
Supporters of the amendment point out that many people don’t even know they’re pregnant at six weeks.

Florida’s ban also makes no exceptions for rape, incest or human trafficking after the 15th week of pregnancy. Doctors should not be afraid of becoming felons if they provide potentially life-saving healthcare to people.

The GOP likes to say it is against government interference. Well, this is a way to get their hands on women.

Vote “Yes” on Florida’s Amendment 4 on abortion.

No. 4 Constitutional Amendment Article I, New Section

Amendment to Limit Government Interference with Abortion
No law shall prohibit, penalize, delay, or restrict abortion before viability or when necessary to protect the patient’s health, as determined by the patient’s healthcare provider. This amendment does not change the Legislature’s constitutional authority to require notification to a parent or guardian before a minor has an abortion.

The proposed amendment would result in significantly more abortions and fewer live births per year in Florida. The increase in abortions could be even greater if the amendment invalidates laws requiring parental consent before minors undergo abortions and those ensuring only licensed physicians perform abortions. There is also uncertainty about whether the amendment will require the state to subsidize abortions with public funds. Litigation to resolve those and other uncertainties will result in additional costs to the state government and state courts that will negatively impact the state budget. An increase in abortions may negatively affect the growth of state and local revenues over time. Because the fiscal impact of increased abortions on state and local revenues and costs cannot be estimated with precision, the total impact of the proposed amendment is indeterminate. THE FINANCIAL IMPACT OF THIS AMENDMENT CANNOT BE DETERMINED DUE TO AMBIGUITIES AND UNCERTAINTIES SURROUNDING THE AMENDMENT’S IMPACT

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This article appears in Oct 17-23, 2024.

Read his 2016 intro letter and disclosures from 2022 and 2021. Ray Roa started freelancing for Creative Loafing Tampa in January 2011 and was hired as music editor in August 2016. He became Editor-In-Chief...