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AMENDMENT 6
Prohibition on Public Funding of Abortions; Construction of Abortion Rights
Description: The amendment would place in the state constitution an existing federal ban on the use of federal dollars for abortions except in the case of rape, incest or if the health of the mother is at risk.
It would also potentially pave the way for abortion-related laws that have been rejected by the courts in the past.
In 1980, voters passed a constitutional amendment guaranteeing the right to privacy. In the past, abortion bills have been tossed by the court based on the privacy law. If passed, the amendment would remove abortion from a Floridian’s right to privacy, thus no longer subjecting them to state privacy laws.
Context: Specifically, the proposed amendment would provide a path forward for legislation requiring parental consent before a minor gets an abortion. In 1999, the Florida Supreme Court cited the state’s privacy provisions when ruling a parental consent bill unconstitutional.
Opponents of the bill believe anti-abortion groups would not stop at parental consent legislation.
The issue has pitted the Catholic Church against Planned Parenthood.
A group called “Vote No on 6” has raised $2.4 million to oppose the amendment, with half the money coming from Planned Parenthood affiliates.
Citizens for Protecting Taxpayers and Parental Rights raised $246,425 to support the proposal. Most of that has come from Catholic dioceses across the state.
Where they stand: Opponents: Planned Parenthood, Vote No on 6, Faith Voices Against Amendment 6, which includes Jewish, Unitarian and Methodist clergy; Supporters: The Catholic Church, Florida Right to Life, Florida Farm Bureau.
Read more at Jacksonville.com: http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2012-10-13/story/florida-constitutional-amendments-voters-guide#ixzz29sdvHurs
Prohibition on Public Funding of Abortions; Construction of Abortion Rights
Description: The amendment would place in the state constitution an existing federal ban on the use of federal dollars for abortions except in the case of rape, incest or if the health of the mother is at risk.
It would also potentially pave the way for abortion-related laws that have been rejected by the courts in the past.
In 1980, voters passed a constitutional amendment guaranteeing the right to privacy. In the past, abortion bills have been tossed by the court based on the privacy law. If passed, the amendment would remove abortion from a Floridian’s right to privacy, thus no longer subjecting them to state privacy laws.
Context: Specifically, the proposed amendment would provide a path forward for legislation requiring parental consent before a minor gets an abortion. In 1999, the Florida Supreme Court cited the state’s privacy provisions when ruling a parental consent bill unconstitutional.
Opponents of the bill believe anti-abortion groups would not stop at parental consent legislation.
The issue has pitted the Catholic Church against Planned Parenthood.
A group called “Vote No on 6” has raised $2.4 million to oppose the amendment, with half the money coming from Planned Parenthood affiliates.
Citizens for Protecting Taxpayers and Parental Rights raised $246,425 to support the proposal. Most of that has come from Catholic dioceses across the state.
Where they stand: Opponents: Planned Parenthood, Vote No on 6, Faith Voices Against Amendment 6, which includes Jewish, Unitarian and Methodist clergy; Supporters: The Catholic Church, Florida Right to Life, Florida Farm Bureau.
Read more at Jacksonville.com: http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2012-10-13/story/florida-constitutional-amendments-voters-guide#ixzz29sdvHurs
