‘A nightmare’: Tampa Bay lawmakers, advocates respond to Sen. Scott’s stance on abortion rights

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Tampa Bay lawmakers and abortion rights advocates held a news conference Thursday to discuss Sen. Rick Scott’s stance on abortion rights.

Democrats slammed the former Florida Governor’s record on abortion and respond to a recent interview where he indicated that, if he were still in the position, he would have approved the six-week abortion ban that will soon take effect.

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“If I was the sitting governor and the six-week abortion ban came in front of me, I would sign it,” Scott said in the Spectrum News interview.

Earlier this week, Scott said he would support replacing the more restrictive six-week abortion ban with the existing 15-week statewide abortion ban. He said it would line up with Floridian’s views because “…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,” Scott told The Hill in an interview. “I think it’s important we do what there’s consensus” for.

In Thursday’s news conference, lawmakers stressed the importance of protecting abortion rights as women’s healthcare and the urgency they face heading into the 2024 election.

“We’re standing up here because we know, and make no mistake, that the reproductive rights of millions of women in Florida are on the line this November, not just on Amendment 4, but up and down the ballot,” Rep. Lindsay Cross said. “From Rick Scott, to Republicans in Tallahassee, none of them support your right to choose.”

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The Florida Supreme Court upheld the state’s 15-week abortion ban on April 1, which was blocking the more restrictive ban from taking effect while it was tied up in the courts. The 6-week ban is set to take effect on May 1, which is 30 days after the ruling.

“It started with a 15-week ban, but in just a few short days, Florida will be pushed back into the dark ages with a six week abortion ban,” Rep. Dianne Hart said. “I’m convinced that this legislature, this state and its leadership will not be satisfied until we’re reliving the days when women were losing their lives at the hands of coat hangers and other barbaric measures.”

Democrats maintain that abortion rights are not a political issue, but a private healthcare matter.

“This is extremist legislation that has politicians interfering with what should be a personal medical decision between women, their partners and their doctors,” Rep. Susan Valdés said. “Patients don’t turn to politicians for advice about birth control, mammograms and cancer treatment, and abortion should be no different.”

A retired OBGYN, Dr. Bruce Shephard, said that the six-week abortion ban does not make sense from a medical standpoint. Shepard practiced in Tampa for 40 years, delivering 7,500 babies in the region.

“As an OBGYN, I’ve cared for women whose pregnancies did not have happy endings,” Dr. Shephard said. “I’ve delivered bad news to women who desperately wanted to be mothers, but not everyone gets that chance. Not every pregnancy ends with a healthy baby.”

He also raised concerns with both the 15-week and six-week deadline to have an abortion.

Women typically find out about issues with their unborn children, like genetic conditions or abnormalities, at their 18-week ultrasound. Dr. Shephard said that although he advised women as their doctor in making those difficult decisions, the responsibility and ultimate choice was up to them.

Dr. Shephard called the six-week abortion ban “archaic,” “dangerous,” and “a nightmare.”

“It’s the worst piece of legislation I’ve ever seen come out of Tallahassee, and Sen. Rick Scott supports it,” Dr. Shephard said. “He previously said he would sign it into law, and yesterday, he doubled down again.”

Florida voters will have the chance to weigh in on the issue at the polls in November. Amendment 4, a citizen ballot initiative that would enshrine abortion rights in the state constitution, is on the ballot. It would permit abortion procedures up to the point of viability, as determined by a physician.

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Florida Democrats are pointing to Scott’s pro-life record as he seeks reelection in 2024. Democrats credited their successes in the 2022 midterms to reinvigorated support for abortion rights after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade.

“If you’re a Republican that voted for this ban and you think your voters won’t remember, you’re in trouble,” Rep. Cross said.

Sen. Scott’s press team did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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