DeSantis, advocates clash over Amendment 4

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WFLA) — A federal judge is blocking Florida’s surgeon general from threatening TV stations to air pro-Amendment 4 commercials.

Judge Mark Walker issued a temporary restraining order against Joseph Ladapo. It comes after the state Department of Health sent cease-and-desist letters to television stations, saying criminal charges would be filed if the pro-Amendment 4 ads were not pulled.

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The judge said this was a clear violation of the first amendment.

“People don’t want to be lied to, they want to know the truth,” said Gov. Ron DeSantis.

If approved by 60 percent of voters, Amendment 4 would add the right to abortion to the state constitution. If the amendment is blocked, the state’s six-week ban would remain in place.

“This initiative is simple; it’s about nothing more than ending the extreme ban on abortion in Florida,” said Lauren Brenzel, director of the Yes on 4 campaign.

The language used in the ads in favor of Amendment 4 is creating as much controversy as the amendment itself.

As early voting began Monday, DeSantis stood alongside Florida doctors to talk about voting against Amendment 4, while pro-vote advocates challenged the argument.

Lauren Brenzel, the director of the “Yes On 4” campaign, believed that DeSantis and other politicians are “out of touch” with voters.

“Politicians are getting it wrong right now,” Brenzel said. “There are plenty of voters who support their politician on any other issue, but know that Florida’s abortion ban is too extreme.”

DeSantis believes Amendment 4 is spreading lies to Floridians.

“This is a very vague and intentionally misleading amendment that was basically written to mislead as many voters as possible so they can somehow get to the finish line,” DeSantis said. “Advertising is 100% on the deceptive track of telling lie, after lie, after lie.”

One example of pro-Amendment 4 advertising the governor mentioned was an ad saying Florida’s six-week abortion ban would have prevented a woman from aborting her life.

Brenzel shared that the governor’s efforts were an attempt to silence an ad that shared a true story of women that spoke to the severe impact of Florida’s abortion ban.

Desantis, doctors and other state leaders argue that changing the constitution is too extreme and advises all voters to carefully understand the language before making a decision.

“This is a Pandora’s box for bad politics,” he said. “This amendment does not define any of the terms that are actually in the amendment.”

“We know that Ron DeSantis has been an important leader in the state for the past 8 years, and many Floridians agree with him on many of his policies,” Brenzel said. “Unfortunately, this is one that is getting completely wrong.”

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