A political committee behind the marketing campaign to move a constitutional proper to abortion in Florida has filed a lawsuit in opposition to a state healthcare company that it alleges is finishing up a taxpayer-funded “misinformation” marketing campaign in opposition to the November poll measure.
Critics say the state-backed messaging push is the most recent “soiled trick” by Republican officers in Florida to thwart the citizen-led initiative to guard abortion within the nation’s third-largest state. Practically 1,000,000 Floridians signed petitions to get the measure often known as Modification 4 on the poll, surpassing the greater than 891,500 signatures required by the state.
The American Civil Liberties Union of Florida filed the lawsuit in a Leon County circuit court docket on Thursday on behalf of Floridians Defending Freedom, Inc., the group behind Modification 4.
Learn the lawsuit beneath:
The lawsuit targets an internet site and tv and radio adverts created by Florida’s Company for Well being Care Administration to provide Floridians “the reality” concerning the proposed constitutional modification. If accredited by at the least 60% of Florida voters, Modification 4 would make abortions authorized till the fetus is viable, as decided by the affected person’s well being care supplier.
The web site launched this month states that “Modification 4 threatens girls’s security” and defends Florida’s present legislation, which bans most abortions after six weeks, beneath a banner that reads “Florida is Defending Life” and “Do not let the fearmongers misinform you.”
Within the authorized submitting, attorneys for the abortion rights marketing campaign referred to as on the court docket to instantly halt the messaging push and what they argue is the illegal use of taxpayer funds by state officers in service of a political marketing campaign, actions which they declare are infringing on the rights of Florida voters.
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“Florida’s authorities has crossed a harmful line by utilizing public assets to mislead voters and manipulate their selections within the upcoming election,” ACLU of Florida lawyer Michelle Morton mentioned in an announcement. “This lawsuit goals to cease these unconstitutional efforts and restore integrity to our electoral course of.”
Representatives for AHCA didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.
In a publish on the social media platform X earlier than the lawsuit was filed, AHCA Secretary Jason Weida touted the company’s new web site.
“To fight the lies and disinformation surrounding Florida’s abortion legal guidelines, @AHCA_FL has launched an improved transparency web page,” Weida’s publish reads. “To see extra please go to our web site.”
To fight the lies and disinformation surrounding Florida’s abortion legal guidelines, @AHCA_FL has launched an improved transparency web page. The web page additional clarifies the legal guidelines and laws for abortion in Florida.
To see extra please go to our web site: https://t.co/BXPFulKag8
— Jason Weida (@JasonWeidaFL) September 5, 2024
Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis has defended the company’s messaging push — and a state investigation into tens of 1000’s of petition signatures that had been used to get Modification 4 on the poll. As part of that probe, police have been displaying up on the properties of a number of the individuals who signed the petition to query them.
Talking to reporters earlier than the lawsuit was filed, DeSantis mentioned the AHCA web page isn’t political however is giving Floridians “factual info” concerning the modification.
“Every part that’s put out is factual. It’s not electioneering,” DeSantis mentioned at a information convention, including, “I’m glad they’re doing it.”
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