BY ALEX GALBRAITH, NICOLLE OSORIO AND NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA
Florida GOP looks forward to stripping women of human rights, Publix decides not to offer COVID vaccines to children under 5, and other news you may have missed last week. »
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Supreme Court ruling adds fuel to Florida abortion battles The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision Friday to overturn the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling drew fiercely polarized reactions in Florida, with Gov. Ron DeSantis saying the state will “work to expand pro-life protections.” The decision, authored by Justice Samuel Alito and backed by the court’s conservative majority, had been expected after a draft opinion was leaked in May. It came a week before a new Florida law is scheduled to take effect that would prevent women from having abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy. Abortion-rights supporters are fighting the Florida law (HB 5), with a Leon County circuit judge scheduled to hear arguments this week in a request for a temporary injunction to block it. Abortion clinics and a doctor are challenging the law under a privacy clause in the Florida Constitution. DeSantis, who signed the law in April, issued a statement on Twitter praising Friday’s Supreme Court ruling, saying the “prayers of millions have been answered.” “Florida will continue to defend its recently-enacted pro-life reforms against state court challenges, will work to expand pro-life protections, and will stand for life by promoting adoption, foster care and child welfare,” DeSantis said in the Twitter post. Senate President Wilton Simpson, R-Trilby, also praised the decision. “As an adopted child myself, I am grateful for this decision. The court is finally righting a grievous wrong,” Simpson, who is running for state agriculture commissioner, said. But Democrats and other abortion-rights supporters blasted the ruling as an attack on reproductive rights. State Senate Minority Leader Lauren Book, D-Plantation, predicted that Republicans could seek an “all-out” abortion ban in Florida. “With Florida Republicans cruelly proving their appetite for robbing women and girls victimized by the horrific trauma of rape, incest, and human trafficking of their right to an abortion after 15 weeks — period, end of sentence, no exceptions — it is clearly only a matter of time before our state also debates an all-out abortion ban,” Book said. Representative Anna Eskamani, D-Orlando, said, “This is a devastating blow to our collective freedom as women and Americans. And it follows a clear and consistent Republican effort to end the right to abortions. We have never lost a constitutional right, and now must make sure that Republicans at every level of government feel the consequences of stripping away our rights and freedoms. … We cannot forget that this fight goes beyond abortion, this decision is tied to other freedoms we have fought for, including same-sex marriage and access to contraception. Though this is a major loss for gender equity and a horrific win for extreme conservatism, we must remember that here in Florida, abortion is still legal. We must remember that Floridians overwhelmingly want abortion to remain legal. We must take these fights with us into the upcoming midterm elections while we continue to support local abortion providers and funds. “This is not the time to shrink or surrender. The antidote to despair is action.”
approved COVID-19 vaccines for children as young as 6 months old. Publix has had an integral role in the initial distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine in Florida. The supermarket chain has more than 1,200 stores in seven Southern states, but the bulk —more than 800 — belong to the Sunshine State. A spokesperson for Publix told the Tampa Bay Times the supermarket chain “will not offer the vaccine approved for children ages 4 and under ‘at this time.’” The approach toward the new vaccines tracks with Tallahassee. Florida is the only state that didn’t pre-order the recently approved COVID-19 vaccine for children before the FDA and CDC approved it for emergency use, and Florida Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo recommended against vaccinating otherwise healthy children. According to its website, Publix is still accepting COVID-19 vaccine appointments for children ages 5 and older. The company also offers other child vaccinations, including the flu shot for children as young as 6 months old. Other major pharmacies have begun their vaccination distribution for younger kids: CVS is administering COVID-19 vaccines for those aged 18 months and above, while Walgreens is offering the Pfizer and Moderna shots to children aged 3 years and older, according to their website.
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DeSantis vetoes bill that would have allowed businesses to sue cities for lost profits A controversial measure that would have given businesses power to sue cities and counties to recoup lost profits was among five bills that Gov. Ron DeSantis vetoed Friday. While the veto of the business measure drew praise from local-government and environmental groups, DeSantis left open the door for lawmakers to consider similar, but more targeted, legislation in the future. DeSantis on Friday also signed 32 bills that passed during the legislative session that ended in March. They included a bill that will allow cities and counties to restrict smoking at beaches and parks that they own and a pandemic-related measure that will prevent emergency orders “directly or indirectly” blocking religious institutions from conducting services or activities. In addition to the business bill, DeSantis’ vetoes included nixing a highprofile measure that would have revamped the state’s alimony laws.
Disney promises to cover abortion travel costs for employees The Walt Disney Company said it would cover travel expenses for its employees seeking an abortion in states where abortion is restricted. The news came after the Supreme Court released a ruling on Friday that overturned the constitutional right to an abortion in the United States. That ruling triggered complete abortion bans and the immediate closure of abortion clinics in many states. “We recognize the impact of the ruling and that we remain committed to providing comprehensive access to quality and affordable care for all of our employees, cast members and their families, including family planning and reproductive care, no matter where they live,” Disney told the Washington Post. Disney is one of several companies that have announced plans to cover travel costs for employees who live in states where abortions are illegal. Lauren Hobart, the CEO of Dick’s Sporting Goods, said that her company would provide $4,000 in travel assistance for employees seeking abortions in a post to her LinkedIn. “This benefit will be provided to any teammate, spouse or dependent enrolled in our medical plan, along with one support person,” she wrote. Disney’s announcement is its latest high-profile clash with conservative politics. The company and its parks ran afoul of Florida Republicans earlier this year for criticizing the state’s controversial “Don’t Say Gay” law. That move resulted in GOP lawmakers stripping Walt Disney World of its independent governmental status in retaliation, as well as a series of GOP protests outside the park’s gates.
Publix opts out of distributing COVID-19 vaccine for children under 5 Publix confirmed that they will not offer the newly approved Moderna and Pfizer shots to children younger than 5. The decision comes after federal health officials
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JUNE 29-JULY 5, 2022 ● ORLANDO WEEKLY
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