Florida Democratic Leader Lauren Book to speak at White House abortion session
Lydia Nusbaum contributed to this report.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (FLV) – Florida Senate Democratic Leader Lauren Book will speak during the closing session of the White House State Legislative Convening on Reproductive Rights on Wednesday.
Book is the senate minority leader in the Florida Legislature and represents the Davie area.
Another Florida Democrat – Sen. Lori Berman of Boynton Beach – will attend.
According to a press release from the Florida Senate Democratic Caucus, lawmakers are being invited to Washington, D.C. that originate from “states hostile to abortion access.”
Florida made headlines earlier this year, and last year, for passing stricter abortion restrictions – in 2022, 15 weeks, and this past 2023 session, six weeks.
“It is so important that we stand together in this war to protect reproductive rights,” Book said. “We’re at a turning point for abortion access in the United States and in Florida, with more restrictive laws from politicians who have no business meddling in private conversations between women and their doctors.”
“By standing together at the White House with other lawmakers facing similar challenges, we have an opportunity to continue to fight for the freedom to choose – because no one is going to save us but ourselves,” she said.
President Joe Biden and his administration have repeatedly touted their support for protecting access to abortion.
“Protecting access to reproductive health care has been a priority since the beginning of the Biden-Harris Administration, made even more urgent by the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade,” the White House said in April.
A Florida Republican supermajority took hold after the 2022 election, and as expected and warned by Democrats last year, they used their newfound influence to double down on pro-life legislation.
In April, Gov. Ron DeSantis, who has consistently touted his pro-life position and said he’s sign any pro-life bills that arrive at his desk, signed the six-week abortion restriction into law.
“We are proud to support life and family in the state of Florida,” DeSantis said. “I applaud the Legislature for passing the Heartbeat Protection Act that expands pro-life protections and provides additional resources for young mothers and families.”
The six-week ban is waiting for a Florida Supreme Court decision on the 15-week abortion ban before taking effect.
The House approved the Senate bill version 70-40, which includes exceptions for abortions up to 15 weeks for rape, incest and human trafficking. Other exceptions include if the mother’s life is at risk.
The House bill was co-sponsored by Rep. Jenna Persons-Mulicka, R-Fort Myers, and Rep. Jennifer Canady, R-Lakeland. Sen. Erin Grall, R-Fort Pierce, sponsored the Senate version.
The proposal also allocates millions of dollars for a family planning program and expand the Florida Pregnancy Care Network.
There is trigger language in the law for the abortion ban to go into effect 30 days after one of the following events occurs:
- The Florida Supreme court ruling overturns one of several other related cases
- A Florida Supreme court ruling stating that the privacy clause in the Florida Constitution does not protect the right to abortion
- An amendment to the Florida Constitution which provides the same.
Rep. Kiyan Michael, R-Jacksonville, who is Black, spoke out against the high percentage of abortions occurring among Black babies.
“The reality is 40% of babies who are aborted on Black babies. We’ve seen our country torn apart. Marches, burned down because Black Lives Matter. And I agree that all lives matter,” Michael said. “But at what point do they matter? Do they not matter in the womb?”
House Minority Leader Frentrice Driskell, D-Tampa, said the law amounts to an “outright ban.”
“This is not reasonable because it amounts to an outright ban. Most women don’t know that they are pregnant at six weeks,” Driskell said. “You just don’t want women to have choice.”
