Rick Scott supports 15-week Florida abortion ban over 6-week limit
Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) says he would support replacing Florida’s six-week state abortion ban with a 15-week statewide ban that he believes would reflect broader consensus within the Sunshine State over how to protect unborn life.
Scott says any 15-week statewide abortion ban should include the standard exceptions for cases of rape, incest and to protect the life of the mother.
Scott, who is running for reelection for a second Senate term, says he remains staunchly “pro-life” and signed “every pro-life bill that came in front of me” while he served as Florida governor from 2011 to 2019.
But he says that “in Florida there’s way more consensus around 15 weeks with exceptions for rape, incest and the life of the mother.”
“So if I was writing a bill, I’d think that 15 weeks with the limitations [for rape, incest and to protect the life of the mother] is where the state’s at,” he told The Hill in an interview. “I think it’s important we do what there’s consensus” for.
Scott says he’s not in any way backing away from his support for restricting abortion but wants to put the focus of the Senate campaign debate on Democrats who he claimed favor allowing abortions until shortly before birth. Abortions are rarely performed in the third trimester.
“I’ve been pro-life, and I think we need to continue to the importance of being pro-life and I think the other thing is we ought to be very clear that Democrats are barbaric. They want — they’ve already voted to allow abortion up until the moment of birth,” he said.
Asked specifically if he would favor replacing the six-week abortion ban signed into law a year ago by Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) with a 15-week statewide ban, Scott said: “If I was writing a bill, I think 15 weeks is where the state is.”
Scott made his comments two weeks after the Florida Supreme Court upheld the state’s ban on most abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy, setting the stage for DeSantis’s six-week abortion ban to take effect next month.
The six-week ban had been paused from taking effect while proponents and opponents of abortion rights battled over the constitutionality of a 15-week ban, which DeSantis had signed into law in 2022.
Now that the state Supreme Court has upheld that 2022 law with a 6-1 vote, the six-week ban can take effect next month. The six-week ban includes exceptions to save the life of the mother and for pregnancies caused by rape or incest, as long as they are terminated by the 15th week.
The Florida Supreme Court also ruled this month in a 4-3 ruling that voters may consider a ballot initiative that would amend the state Constitution to protect the right to an abortion.
The amendment if passed would decree that no law should prohibit, penalize, delay or restrict abortion before a fetus becomes viable outside the womb nor should any law restrict abortion when it is “necessary to protect the patient’s health, as determined by the patient’s health care provider.
Scott’s statement to The Hill Monday is notable because he said last year that he would have signed the state’s six-week abortion ban into law if he were still governor.
“Not true. I am 100% pro-life and if I was still governor, I would sign this bill,” Scott tweeted a year ago, responding to a post suggesting he would not support the ban.
Florida Democrats, including Scott’s opponent, former Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell (D-Fla.), want to put the issue of abortion rights in the spotlight ahead of the general election.
Earlier this month, she highlighted Scott’s previous statement that he would have signed the six-week ban into law.
“Rick Scott knows he will have to answer for his support for Florida’s dangerous and unpopular abortion ban this November — that’s why he’s going everything he can to hide from his record,” she said in an April 5 statement released by her campaign.
Democratic strategists expect women voters to turn out in large numbers to vote for the ballot initiative to protect abortion rights.
Scott in a statement issued after the state Supreme Court’s ruling said: “We all know that life is the greatest gift we have ever received, we want to welcome every unborn baby into life, and we prefer adoption over abortion.”
He said policymakers “must work hard to make adoption more affordable” and pledged to “always protect IVF."
He accused Mucarsel-Powell of opposing any limits on abortion.
Mucarsel-Powell’s campaign released a memo earlier this month calling the Supreme Court’s abortion ruling a “gamechanger” and declaring that Scott’s stance on abortion rights poses “an existential threat to his reelection bid.”
“It makes me more committed than ever to make sure that we not only pass the ballot amendment … but to make sure I win,” the Democratic candidate told The Hill in an interview after the court’s ruling.
Scott told The Washington Post last week that he plans to vote against the state ballot initiative to protect abortion rights and said he agreed with former President Trump’s statement that abortion restrictions should be decided by the states.
This story was updated at 3:40 p.m.
Date: | |
Tag: | Abortion |
Filter
-
Biden blames Trump for Florida's 6-week abortion ban, says women nationwide face health crisis
President Joe Biden is blaming Donald Trump for Florida’s upcoming abortion ban and other restrictions across the country that have imperiled access to care for pregnant womenABC News - Health - Joe Biden -
Florida’s Six-Week Abortion Ban Will Cut Off Major Access Point
The state has dozens of clinics that serve tens of thousands of women a year, including from across the Southeast. The six-week ban will require most to travel much farther.The New York Times - Top stories - Abortion -
Rick Scott calls for Columbia resignations, donors to withhold funds as protests rage
Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) called for donations to stop and for resignations of officials at Columbia University amid protests gaining steam at college campuses around the nation. “If you’re a donor to Columbia University, stop,” Scott said in an ...The Hill - Politics -
Arizona Republicans Who Supported Repealing an Abortion Ban Face Blowback
On social media, Arizona lawmakers are accused of being baby killers, cowards and traitors.The New York Times - Top stories - Abortion -
Mitch McConnell shies away from supporting national abortion ban
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell did not say whether he supports a 15-week federal ban on abortions, with exceptions, but told NBC's "Meet the Press," "I don’t think we’ll get 60 votes in the Senate for any kind of national legislation."NBC News - Top stories - Abortion -
Mitch McConnell shies away from supporting national abortion ban
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell did not say whether he supports a 15-week federal ban on abortions, with exceptions, but told NBC's "Meet the Press," "I don’t think we’ll get 60 votes in the Senate for any kind of national legislation."NBC News - Politics - Abortion -
Divided Supreme Court wrestles with dispute over Idaho abortion ban
The Supreme Court heard arguments in a case that pits Idaho's near-total abortion ban against a federal law that requires hospitals to offer emergency care.CBS News - Politics - Abortion -
Divided Supreme Court wrestles with dispute over Idaho abortion ban
The Supreme Court heard arguments in a case that pits Idaho's near-total abortion ban against a federal law that requires hospitals to offer emergency care.CBS News - Politics - Abortion -
The Finals Gets Limited-Time Mode Without Respawns This Week
Embark Studios has announced that it is adding a new limited-time mode to The Finals on May 2.. The new mode is called Terminal Attack, and it's a 5v5 tactical affair where two teams face off against each other. The attacking side must deliver a ...GameSpot - Tech -
Mitch McConnell refuses to say whether he supports a US national abortion ban
Senate minority leader says he is ‘not advocating anything at this level’ and that issue is too divisive among lawmakers for consensus. Asked whether he supports a federal abortion ban, US Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell said Sunday that he ...The Guardian - World - Abortion
More from The Hill
-
Riot police drag away protesters at University of Texas as Gaza tensions flare
State troopers in riot gear moved on Monday afternoon to clear out students attempting to occupy a quad at the University of Texas at Austin. Dozens of protesters were arrested on site, escalating tensions that began on Wednesday when the ...The Hill - Politics -
Jill Stein accuses police of assaulting her at protest
Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein on Sunday alleged police assaulted her and other demonstrators shortly before being arrested at a pro-Palestinian protest on the campus of Washington University in St. Louis. “Basically, the police ...The Hill - Politics -
US finds Israeli military units violated human rights
Welcome to The Hill's Defense & NatSec newsletter {beacon} Defense &National Security Defense &National Security The Big Story US finds Israeli military units violated human rights The State Department has determined that at least five Israeli ...The Hill - Politics - Israel -
Evening Report — Protests continue to spread on college campuses
A quick recap of the day and what to look forward to tomorrow {beacon} Evening Report © AP Pro-Palestinian protests escalate on college campuses Hundreds of students have been arrested on college campuses across the country as ...The Hill - Politics -
FCC fines wireless carriers
Presented by Microsoft — {beacon} Technology Technology PRESENTED BY The Big Story FCC fines major mobile carriers $200M The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) issued a fine totaling $200 million to the nation’s four largest mobile ...The Hill - Politics