The Quickie: Florida Supreme Court Hears Argument in 16-Week Abortion Ban Challenge
For Immediate Release: Sept. 8, 2023
Welcome to “The Quickie” — Planned Parenthood Action Fund’s daily tipsheet on the top health care & reproductive rights stories of the day. You can read “The Quickie'' online here.
In today’s Quickie: Arguments begin for FL 15-week ban hearing, the GOP attempts to shift unsuccessful pro-life messaging, and Mexico’s historic milestone is an example for other countries.
FLORIDA SUPREME COURT HEARS ARGUMENT IN 15-WEEK ABORTION BAN CHALLENGE: This morning, the Florida Supreme Court heard oral arguments in a challenge to Florida’s ban on abortion after 15 weeks of pregnancy. Attorneys for several abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida and Planned Parenthood of South, East, and North Florida, argue that the ban is a blatant violation of decades of established law within the state constitution. The State has argued that Floridians have no state constitutional right to abortion and therefore politicians could ban abortion entirely. Unless the court blocks the 15-week ban, a separate law signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis earlier this year that bans abortion at six weeks in pregnancy — a time when many people don’t even know they are pregnant — will automatically go into effect 30 days after the court issues its decision.
Abortion providers, advocates, and attorneys will hold a virtual press conference today at 12:30 p.m. ET. Register here for information & a recording of the press conference.
“Every day that Florida’s abortion ban is in effect is another day that people’s lives are at risk. A decision upholding the abortion ban would be unconscionable, continuing to deny people control over their own bodies and futures. We already know that this ban has endangered Floridians and their families. Upholding it would only worsen our state’s health,” said Alexandra Mandado, president and CEO, Planned Parenthood of South, East and North Florida.
Read more in the Washington Post and see our release here.
THE GOP: “IT'S ME, HI, I'M THE PROBLEM, IT'S ME”: Last night, NBC reported on a closed-door meeting where a Republican-aligned Super PAC warned the GOP about their “pro-life” messaging not resonating with voters. Why they needed pollsters to tell them instead of looking at the clear proof points from the midterms and key ballot initiatives in Wisconsin, Ohio, Kansas, and more is another story. But suddenly, some senate Republicans are worried about their abortion messaging.
Notably, none of the lawmakers expressed any desire to change their anti-abortion views or stop their plans to ban abortion nationwide. Their “new” (read: typical) messaging strategy is to find more ways to spin their agenda and mislead voters in order to get re-elected. If that sounds familiar, it’s because you probably remember this playbook in 2022 when candidates tried to walk back their anti-abortion views and scrub their websites. When will they learn? (Hint: never)
MEXICO’S VICTORY AN INSPIRATION FOR OTHER COUNTRIES: Following the recent decision by the Mexican Supreme Court decriminalizing abortion at the federal level, leaders of Mexico’s “Green Wave” are pointing to their decades-long struggle as a potential example for reproductive rights activists in the US. “In Mexico we have a lot of experience,” Rebeca Ramos, a lawyer behind the Mexican court case, told AP. “And given the current situation in the United States, it’s something we can share with them.”
Mexico has played a rapidly increasing role in providing abortions for Americans living in ban states that border the country such as Texas, and many see this historic milestone as an example of successful grassroots activism that signals other countries to take note. At a time when the United States is going in the opposite direction from the rest of the world when it comes to expanding access to sexual and reproductive health care, Planned Parenthood remains committed to equal access to safe and legal health care services, and reaffirming the commitment to human rights and gender equality.
“Our colleagues and partners in Mexico who have been diligently working for decades towards this outcome and we celebrate with them on this win,” said Lori Adelman, acting Executive Director, Planned Parenthood Global. “Health care decisions and outcomes should not be politicized or criminalized. Let us continue working together to ensure that all individuals around the world have access to safe and quality reproductive health care, respecting their decisions and autonomy.”
Read more in AP.