'I do not like this bill': Meet the Florida Republicans who are defying DeSantis on 6-week abortion ban

13 April 2023

After the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022 with its widely unpopular 5-4 ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, many Republican-dominated southern states were quick to pass anti-abortion laws — some of which were more severe than others. Florida, in 2022, passed a 15-week abortion ban that makes no exception for rape or incest.

But far-right evangelical Christian fundamentalists believe that Florida's 15-week law doesn't go far enough, and they have been pushing for a more severe law that would ban abortions in the Sunshine State after only six weeks. The Florida State Senate has already passed a six-week abortion ban that is now being considered in the Florida House of Representatives. And far-right Gov. Ron DeSantis is expected to sign the bill into law it passes in the Florida House and goes to his desk.

But according to Politico's Arek Sarkissian, some Republicans in the Florida House are defying the bill and have announced their plans to vote against it.

A six-week abortion ban would, in effect, be a total abortion ban, as most women who become pregnant don't find out until after six weeks.

Sarkissian, in an article published by Politico early Thursday morning, April 13, explains, "At least two House Republicans are expected to vote Thursday against a bill outlawing most abortions after six weeks of pregnancy. They’re following the lead of two GOP senators who also opposed the abortion bill last week when the upper chamber voted on it. The four represent Democrat-leaning areas and highlight the fraught politics around abortion — even though the legislation has the backing of the Republican governor.”

One of the Republicans who voted against the bill in the Florida State Senate is Alexis Calatayud, whose district is in the Miami area. Calatayud, explaining her reasoning, told Politico, "The only thing red in our district is our sunburns."

Despite the red wave that occurred in Florida in the 2022 midterms, the Sunshine State still has its Democrat-leaning districts. And Florida House members in those districts, according to Sarkissian, believe that a six-week abortion ban could be toxic for them politically.

Democrats, on the whole, performed much better than expected in 2022, winning gubernatorial races in Pennsylvania, Michigan, Arizona and other key swing states. Although Democrats lost the U.S. House of Representatives by single digits, they slightly expanded their small effective majority in the U.S. Senate.

But Florida was terrible for Democrats in 2022. DeSantis ran as a far-right culture warrior and was reelected by 19 percent, and Republicans increased their majorities in the Florida State Legislature. Some pundits have argued that in 2022, Florida made the transition from swing state to full-fledged red state. Nonetheless, GOP lawyers in Florida's blue-leaning districts don't want to be associated with a six-week abortion ban.

One of them is State Rep. Mike Caruso, who confirmed that he is a "no" vote.

Caruso told Politico, "I don't think the bill takes into consideration certain religious rights. And based on that, and some other things, I’m going to be down on the bill…. I do not like this bill."

Democratic Florida State Senate Minority Leader Lauren Book has been a vocal opponent of the bill and has vowed to keep fighting it if it becomes law.

Book told The Guardian, "It’s a scary time. Women are being put in very, very dangerous situations to get the healthcare they need and deserve."

Book believes that the abortion issue could help Democrats regain the ground they have lost in Florida.

The Democratic state lawmaker told The Guardian, "We are going to do the work to get the numbers out in ’24, because the alternative is not acceptable. It's dangerous and it is killing women."

Read Politico'sfull report at this link.

From Your Site Articles