Lawmaker’s on Wednesday gave the green light to a bill that would increase clinic regulations and bar public funding for organizations associated with abortion clinics.
The bill (HB 1411) created familiar divisions in the House and Senate. Supporters saying there needs to be more regulations in place for clinics and tax money should not go to organizations such as Planned Parenthood that provide abortions. Whereas critics say the bill is an attempt to limit the ability of women to have abortions and would lead to a costly legal battle.
Senator Eleanor Sobel (Hollywood-D) is one of those critics. She said:
This decision (about having an abortion) is personal for a women, her family and her faith . . . a truly personal decision. Many women and men believe that the government has no right to interfere with this personal decision.
Senator Alan Hays (Umatilla-R) supports the bill and he said he was speaking for “sweet innocent babies” whose lives could be threatened if the bill did not pass.
The Senate voted 25-15 to approve the bill. The only Republican to cross party lines and vote against the measure was Sen. Nancy Detert (Venice-R).
The House approved the bill last week but had to vote again Wednesday after the Senate made a change. House members voted 76-40 to give final approval. Rep. Daphne Campbell (Miami-D) and Rep. Darryl Rouson (St. Petersburg-D) crossed party lines to support it and six republicans voted against it. They were Tom Goodson (Titusville-R), Bill Hager (Delray Beach-R), Mike Miller (Winter Park-R), Ray Pilon (Sarasota-D), Rene Plasencia (Orlando-R), and Holly Raschein (Key Largo-D).
The measure now goes to Governor Rick Scott who is an abortion opponent.
