On Monday the Florida Supreme Court upheld a virtual ban on abortion for the state. Technically the legislation allows abortions up to 6 weeks, but that technicality is bullshit if you understand how women’s reproductive systems work. In addition there are no exceptions for rape or incest. In other words, the same cruelty we’ve seen over and over again at the state level.

The court also decided that a ballot initiative to enshrine the right to an abortion up until “viability” (a wiggle word with no defined meaning) could go forward in November. This is great news, and it’s also very puzzling. Why would a court that is so anti-choice allow its own political decision to be undermined and brought down?

Part of the reasoning has got to do with the wording of the amendment:

The key language in the proposed amendment reads, “No law shall prohibit, penalize, delay, or restrict abortion before viability or when necessary to protect the patient’s health, as determined by the patient’s healthcare provider.” It includes one exception, for parental notification when minors seek an abortion — a stipulation already in the state constitution.

Believe it or not, Republicans think this is extremist language:

Immediately after the court ruled, Florida Republican House Speaker Paul Renner spoke to journalists and called the amendment “extreme.” He said he plans to fight it, starting by targeting people described as “in the middle.”

“Those that are pro-choice, or consider themselves that, when you dig into this amendment, they would find it to be far, far more extreme than anything else in the country or even around the world.”

Yes, the same people who don’t blink an eye when TFG says something about wanting to round up migrants are all atwitter about straightforward language protecting women’s right to healthcare.

Another reason the anti-choice extremists might feel comfortable in putting the amendment up for a vote is that Republican voter registrations outnumber Democratic ones, and that the proposed amendment must get 60% or more of the vote. But that’s what their counterparts thought in Ohio, and they were wrong.

Elections since Dobbs which have or have made access to abortion the central issue have resulted in a series of big wins for pro-choice causes. Americans might like to debate abortion but when it comes to protecting access, both Republicans and Democrats vote to protect that access.

And I guess there’s also a belief that women are going to get tired of turning out to maintain access to abortion and women’s healthcare. It should be clear by now that that is not going to happen. This won’t be over until the protections of Roe—at the very least—are restored. Remember this?

This decision is also going to have an effect on the actual races on the ticket, especially as there will also be a ballot question about legalizing pot. And the Biden/Harris campaign announced on Monday that it opened a field office in Florida, and that they intend to put the state in play:

President Biden’s reelection campaign announced Monday that it will aim to flip Florida, targeting the home of former President Trump.

Campaign manager Julie Chavez Rodriguez said in a memo that investing in Florida is part of the Biden campaign’s pathway to 270 electoral votes. Trump won the Sunshine State in 2020 with more than 51 percent, compared to Biden’s 48 percent.

“Make no mistake: Florida is not an easy state to win, but it is a winnable one for President Biden, especially given Trump’s weak, cash-strapped campaign, and serious vulnerabilities within his coalition,” she said.

Chavez Rodriguez noted that the Biden campaign hired three operatives to run the campaign in Florida and that the state was part of the fall and spring ad buys, which were $25 million and $30 million spends, respectively.

Oh and did you know what Florida senator Rick Scott’s favorite hobby horse is? Glad you asked:

Rick Scott’s record — here’s what to know about Rick Scott’s “100% pro-life” record: 

– Scott supports Florida’s’ six-week abortion ban: “I am 100% pro-life and if I was still governor, I would sign this bill.”
– In the Senate, Scott co-sponsored a national abortion ban that would put doctors in prison.
– Scott believes “life begins at conception.”
– Scott celebrated the Supreme Court’s Decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, which he has pushed for since 2010.
– Since Roe’s downfall, Scott has set his sights on restricting access to safe and effective medication abortion. 

So Scott’s up for reelection, abortion is on the ballot, and the Biden/Harris campaign is shoveling money into Florida, which means that TFG’s campaign has got to divert money to hold this state he carried by 3 points. And, uh, that money is tied up right now and being used to keep him out of jail.

Let’s close out with a song of thanks (alternate acoustic version):