Florida News
Connection
By: Trimmel Gomes
As the U.S. Supreme Court
deliberates the latest challenge to Roe
v. Wade, new abortion laws are already in the works ahead of
Florida's upcoming legislative session.
Encouraged by possible federal changes, conservatives are moving full speed
ahead in the Statehouse with proposals like House
Bill 167, which would require doctors to conduct a test and inform a
pregnant person of a heartbeat.
Lillian Tamayo, who recently announced her retirement as president and CEO of
Planned Parenthood of South, East and North Florida after 22 years, said on
the Sunrise
podcast, she is going into her final legislative session ready to
fight.
"Doubling down on all the effort of assuring that we continue to provide
healthcare to our patients, to keep our doors open," Tamayo stated.
The Texas-style "heartbeat bill," sponsored by Rep. Webster Barnaby,
R-Deltona, would also allow people to sue physicians, clinics and anyone who
helps someone else obtain an abortion. Florida's 60-day legislative session
begins Tuesday.
Tamayo described her departure from Planned Parenthood as bittersweet. She
noted despite increased efforts to overturn Roe v. Wade, the battle has always
been constant in her eyes, although she calls this a "red alert
moment" for pro-choice advocates.
"To stand in solidarity and to fight for justice, that is the work ahead
and the work that I will imagine I will continue to do in a different way,
following my departure," Tamayo emphasized.
So far, Florida's GOP leaders have not signaled much support for the
Texas-style abortion bill. But Democrats have countered by filing legislation,
including House
Bill 709 and Senate Bill 1036,
to bar any individual, state or local government from interfering with a
person's right to seek an abortion, including legal penalties for doing so.
Content
for this Post is provided by Florida News Connection, a Bureau of Public News
Service. Public News Service is a member
of the The Trust Project.
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