TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — A political committee behind a campaign to pass Florida’s constitutional right to abortion has filed a lawsuit against the state’s health care agency for allegedly running a taxpayer-funded “disinformation” campaign against Nov. measure of voting.
Critics say the state-sponsored message is the latest “dirty trick” by Florida Republican officials to block a citizen-led initiative to protect abortions in the nation’s third-largest state. Nearly a million Floridians signed petitions to put the measure, known as Amendment 4, on the ballot, surpassing the state’s requirement of more than 891,500 signatures.
The American Civil Liberties Union of Florida filed the lawsuit in Leon County District Court on Thursday on behalf of Floridians Protecting Freedom, Inc., the organization behind Amendment 4.
The lawsuit targets a website, television and radio ads created by the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration to give Florida “the truth” about the proposed constitutional amendment. If approved by at least 60 percent of Florida voters, Amendment 4 would make abortions legal until the fetus is viable, as determined by the patient’s health care provider.
A website released this month says “Amendment 4 threatens women’s safety” and defends Florida’s current law, which bans most abortions after six weeks. .”
In a legal filing, abortion rights campaign attorneys are asking the court to immediately stop the communications, which they say state officials are illegally using taxpayer funds for a political campaign, which they say violates the rights of Florida voters.
“Florida’s government has crossed a dangerous line by using public resources to mislead voters and manipulate their choices in upcoming elections,” Florida Attorney General Michelle Morton said in a statement. “The purpose of this lawsuit is to end these unconstitutional efforts and restore the integrity of our election process.”
AHCA representatives did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
AHCA Secretary Jason Weida promoted the agency’s new website on the social media platform X before the lawsuit was filed.
“To combat the lies and disinformation surrounding Florida’s abortion law, @AHCA_FL has launched an enhanced transparency page,” Weida’s post read. “If you want to see more, visit our website.”
Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis has defended the agency’s communications push — and a state investigation into the tens of thousands of petition signatures used to get Amendment 4 on the ballot. As part of this investigation, police have turned up at the homes of some of the people who signed the petition to question them.
Speaking to reporters before the lawsuit was filed, DeSantis said the AHCA page is not political, but instead provides Floridians with “facts” about the change.
“Everything that’s being published is true. It’s not campaigning,” DeSantis said at a news conference, adding, “I’m glad they’re doing it.”
___ Kate Payne is a member of The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places reporters in local newsrooms to report on classified issues.
