Florida
What’s next for abortion access in Florida
By Cindy Krischer Goodman, South Florida Sun Sentinel
Now that a proposed amendment to enshrine abortion access in Florida’s constitution has been defeated, hundreds of volunteers and organizers across the state face the difficult question: What’s next?
Dems say fight isn’t over but abortion is a ‘no’ for Florida lawmakers, top Republican says
By Ana GonÞi-Lessan, USA Today Network-Florida
Unbowed by the failure of the proposed abortion-rights amendment to reach the required 60% approval by voters last week, proponents are calling upon the Republican-controlled Florida Legislature to repeal the state’s six-week abortion ban next year.
I’m trying for a baby — Florida’s abortion law could kill me
By Josie Ensor, The Times UK
When a ballot to protect abortion access in Florida failed last week, it set off a spiralling chain of consequences for Amanda Thompson.
Florida abortion funds have faced a surge in requests for help since May, but their job is about to get even harder
By McKenna Schueler, Orlando Weekly
More than 6 million Florida voters this election cycle voted in favor of enshrining the right to abortion up to the point of fetal viability in the state constitution. It still wasn’t enough.
Hope amid heartbreak for Amendment 4
By Amelia Orjuela Da Silva, Miami Times
On election night, as the results of Florida’s Amendment 4 poured in, Natasha Sutherland was surrounded by a mix of hope and heartbreak. The overwhelming support for the amendment, which sought to enshrine abortion rights in the state constitution, was clear: 57% of Florida voters were in favor.
6 Reproductive Rights Groups You Can Support in Florida
By Caroline Val, Miami New Times
With a 57 percent majority vote for Amendment 4, a percentage even greater than some other states that protect abortion rights in their respective constitutions, it’s clear that many Floridians were not prepared for the grim results Election Day brought upon us.
Judge denies injunction in lawsuit against Florida officials for threats over abortion ads
By Jim Saunders, News Service of Florida
After a proposed constitutional amendment on abortion rights did not pass Tuesday, a federal judge has denied a request for a preliminary injunction against state officials over threats to television stations that aired an ad supporting the ballot measure.
Related: Plaintiffs drop lawsuits alleging fraud in petitioning for failed abortion amendment
How DeSantis beat the abortion and marijuana ballot initiatives
By Kirby Wilson, Tampa Bay Times
Donald Trump won Florida on Nov. 5. But so did Ron DeSantis.
A rigged system efficiently stops amendments
Editorial, South Florida Sun Sentinel
It’s a bittersweet irony. The two best amendments on the ballot in Florida failed for the same undemocratic reason as the two worst ones also failed.
National
Dear Joe Biden: Here’s How You Can Protect Reproductive Rights From Trump’s Zealots
While there’s still time.
By Julianne McShane, Mother Jones
Trump’s reelection has been described by advocates and experts as a final blow to reproductive rights.
Abortion opponents prepare to undermine just-passed ballot measures
By Alice Miranda Ollstein, Politico
Anti-abortion groups on Tuesday unveiled their “Make America Pro-Life Again Roadmap,” an effort to chip away at federal and state access, including in nearly a dozen states that enshrined protections through ballot measures over the last two years.
Health experts outline how Trump administration could affect abortion, contraception access
By Jennifer Shutt, Florida Phoenix
President-elect Donald Trump has several choices to make in the coming months about whether his second administration will keep access to contraception and abortion as it is now or implement changes.
Related: Birth control and abortion pill requests have surged since Trump won the election
New Trump administration could change rules on counseling and referrals for pregnancy
By Alander Rocha, States Newsroom
The Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) has been silent on whether it is following current federal rules requiring health care providers to provide counseling and referrals on all pregnancy options, including abortion.
Letters to the editor
DeSantis shouldn’t have spent tax money on election
By Gabriel Shatunovsky, Windermere, Orlando Sentinel
Excerpt: However, DeSantis’ spending on lobbying against Amendments 3 and 4 of state funds (aka, your tax dollars, whether through ads on TV or when he was parading himself around Florida with doctors advertising his personal beliefs) should still enrage every single Floridian. In my view, it blatantly violated Florida statutes regarding expenditures by “local governments,” which includes state agencies such as the Department of Education and the Agency for Health Care Administration.