The Sarasota County Commission on Tuesday passed a resolution by a 4-1 vote against Amendment 4, which is scheduled to be put to a vote in November and would significantly relax Florida’s strict abortion ban.
The commission asked District Attorney Joshua Moye to draft the resolution at a meeting in Venice on August 27 in response to a public statement condemning abortion.
Commissioner Mark Smith was the only one to vote against the resolution, which he said was unnecessary and outside the board’s jurisdiction.
“I’m pro-life, but I’m also pro-life for the mother. There are issues with incest and rape and maternal health, and I don’t think the amendment or the resolution solves those issues,” Smith said.
The resolution states that the commission believes “that the adoption of Amendment 4 would be detrimental to the health, safety and welfare of the citizens of Sarasota County and the State of Florida.”
Amendment 4 would guarantee abortions in Florida until the fetus is viable, which is usually 24 weeks pregnant. It would allow abortions even if a doctor determines that the mother’s life is in danger.
“No law shall prohibit, penalize, delay, or restrict an abortion before it is feasible or when it is necessary to protect the patient’s health, as determined by the patient’s health care provider. This amendment does not alter the constitutional authority of the legislature to require notification of a parent or guardian before a minor obtains an abortion,” the amendment’s summary states.
Governor Ron DeSantis fought vigorously against the change in the law.
Cutsinger said he thought the amendment was “very vague, very unclear and it raises a lot of problems.”
However, he said: “Personally, I am firmly pro-life and I think it is OK for us as a Commission to communicate that to our community.”
In support of the resolution, Commissioner Neil Rainford noted that the Lee County Commission passed a similar resolution in August.
“This committee has taken some pretty bold steps in the past to protect lives and public safety here in Sarasota County,” Rainford said.
The commission cut all ties with United Way earlier this year because the 211 helpline it funds had listed Planned Parenthood as a possible referral service, even though the number of referrals to abortion providers through 211 has been statistically close to zero for years. In the past year, the commission has also taken a stand on cultural issues related to libraries and health care.
Commissioner Joe Neunder also supported the resolution as a pro-life activist and “practicing Catholic in a state of grace.”
Christian Casale covers local politics for the Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Email him [email protected] and follow him on Twitter @vanityhack
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