Dear Friend,
Today is the last day of the 2023 legislative session — and it couldn’t come soon enough. In the past 60 days, Republicans have completely wreaked havoc on our state, making it a national embarrassment and causing irreparable harm. Their actions are the height of homophobia, transphobia, xenophobia, and misogyny. Florida now has one of the most extreme anti-abortion laws in the country.
Despite the intense challenges and horrifying legislation thrown their way this session, our Democratic pro-choice women legislators fought back. They spoke up time and again for freedom and equality, and refused to back down even when the Republican majority tried their best to silence our opposition.
We are indebted to our leaders, Senate Minority Leader Lauren Book and House Minority Leader Fentrice Driskell, for leading the charge against the near-total abortion ban. Senator Book was among the protestors to get arrested outside the Capitol along with Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried. Our champions introduced over 50 amendments to the 6-week abortion ban bill — from everything including renaming the bill the “Forced Pregnancy Act,” to repealing the mandatory delay law requiring two separate trips to the provider 24-hours apart, to making the rape and incest exception more workable, and to adding an exception for survivors of domestic violence. Although none of these amendments were adopted, our candidates stood up for us when it mattered most, and it’s time for us to stand with them.
During their first legislative session, our freshman legislators made quite an impact and delivered for their constituents. Rep. Ashley Gantt passed a bill, co-sponsored with Senator Lori Berman, to require lactation spaces in courthouses. Rep. Lindsay Cross scored a major win for her district with a $500,000 appropriation for a pedestrian safety project. And Rep. Hillary Cassel and Senator Lori Berman unanimously passed “Greyson’s Law” to safeguard children at risk of parental harm.
The best way to thank our champions is to ensure they get re-elected, and to send more Democratic pro-choice women to the legislature to fight alongside them.
Can you become a monthly donor today to keep our champions in office?
