A report released Wednesday by the Associated Press showed groups supporting constitutional amendments for abortion rights in nine states have raised more than $160 million. The amount raised by pro-choice groups exceeded their opponents by six-to-one.
Florida represented the majority of the money raised nationally. Proponents of Amendment 4, which would prohibit the state from enacting any law to “prohibit, penalize, delay, or restric abortion before viability or when necessary to protect the patient’s health, as determined by the patient’s healthcare provider,” raised nearly $61 million. Under current Florida law, abortions are prohibited after six weeks unless the mother is at risk of substantial injury or death.
The group responsible for fundraising, Floridians Protecting Freedom (FPF), spent much of the money on advertising. This included an ad titled “Caroline” which featured a pregnant person allegedly denied an abortion despite a cancer diagnosis. The Florida Department of Health stated the ad was a “sanitary nuisance” and misinformation. The agency allegedly attempted to coerce TV stations to stop airing the ad, resulting in litigation with FPF.
Missouri also saw a large influx of funding for Amendment 3, which would enshrine a “fundamental right to reproductive freedom.” The ballot measure requires the approval of a majority of voters in more than half of the state’s congressional districts. The deviation from a majority of votes requirement represents the state legislature’s passage of stricter requirements to amend the constitution. Missouri bans all abortions with a limited exception for medical emergencies.
Amendments in Arizona, Montana, Colorado, Nebraska, Maryland, South Dakota and Nevada formed the remainder of the funds raised according to AP’s data source, Open Secrets.
The large of money raised highlighted various state campaign finance laws. In Florida, contributions to Political Committees consisting of two or more people spending at least $500 on ballot measures are unlimited. Whereas, contributions to candidates for public officer are strictly controlled. Colorado limits contributions to Political Committees. However, the state allows unlimited contributions to Independent Expenditure Committees.
