Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is using taxpayer funds to run advertisements opposing ballot measures that would restore abortion access and legalize cannabis in the state. The ads, funded by various state agencies, aim to sway voters against the measures and promote DeSantis’ own policies.
One ad, sponsored by the Florida Department of Transportation, warns that DUI crashes increase in states with legalized marijuana, implying that cannabis is more dangerous than alcohol. The ad’s message is clear, given DeSantis’ public opposition to Amendment 3, which would legalize marijuana in Florida.
Another ad, run by several health care agencies, downplays the impact of Florida’s six-week abortion ban, claiming that women cannot be jailed for having an abortion and that abortions are available before a child’s heartbeat is detected. However, medical professionals say that the ban is putting patients’ health and lives at risk, as providers are delaying or refusing to provide necessary medical care due to fear of losing their licenses or being jailed.
The ads have been criticized by supporters of the ballot measures, who argue that they are taxpayer-funded propaganda. The Yes on 4 campaign, which is working to undo Florida’s abortion ban, has filed a lawsuit against the state’s Agency for Health Care Administration to have the ads taken down.
The DeSantis administration has spent millions of taxpayer dollars on these ads, with $12.5 million allocated from various state agencies. Critics have called the ads an “abuse of taxpayer resources” and a “blatant misallocation of public funds.” Lauren Brenzel, campaign director for Yes on 4, has stated that the ads are an “insult to Floridians and our democratic process” and that Floridians deserve better.
