August 14, 2023

We all saw what just happened in Ohio on attempts to raise the threshold for an abortion amendment to the state constitution. Well, in Florida, there’s a petition drive to pass a similar constitutional amendment. It says, “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 health care provider.” Via Diane Roberts at the Florida Phoenix:

Organizers have said they've collected nearly half a million signatures they need to put the proposal on next year’s ballot.

To pass here, the measure needs the approval of 60 percent of voters. That is tough, but things could get worse in the future.

Some Republicans want the threshold raised to 66.67 percent. A bill mandating that change be put to a constitutional vote died in committee this past legislative session; however, like so many very bad ideas cherished by the venal dolts who claim to represent us, it is likely to be back next year.

Ain't that just like Republicans? They can't win on the issues, so they just keep changing the rules until they work in their favor.

But there’s reason to hope, Roberts says. Ohio’s state government, like Florida’s, is entirely owned by Republican extremists. But the abortion issue may yet slow their plans to turn America into a "white Christo-fascist autocracy."

Can you help us out?

For nearly 20 years we have been exposing Washington lies and untangling media deceit, but now Facebook is drowning us in an ocean of right wing lies. Please give a one-time or recurring donation, or buy a year's subscription for an ad-free experience. Thank you.

Discussion

We welcome relevant, respectful comments. Any comments that are sexist or in any other way deemed hateful by our staff will be deleted and constitute grounds for a ban from posting on the site. Please refer to our Terms of Service for information on our posting policy.
Mastodon