In the News
WHAT THEY’RE READING: Rick Scott Called Out for Voting Against Contraception Access in Statewide Tour
Press conferences in Miami, Orlando, and Tampa featured giant inflatable IUD
his week, leaders in Miami, Orlando, and Tampa called out Rick Scott for voting against protecting access to contraception, while standing beside a giant inflatable IUD. During the tour, Democrats across Florida slammed Scott’s attacks on reproductive health care.
Read more about Democrats slamming Scott’s attacks on contraception below:
FL Politics: With giant birth control device as a prop, Democrats keep up attacks against Rick Scott
- Behind the backdrop of a large inflatable IUD outside Orlando City Hall, Florida Democrats targeted U.S. Sen. Rick Scott and called him a hypocrite for saying he supported in vitro fertilization (IVF) after he voted against federal protections for it.
- “It makes sense that a Senator like Rick Scott would say one thing and then do another,” said U.S. Rep. Maxwell Frost at the press conference. “He’s someone who holds a record in terms of health care, having done the largest fraud in the history of our country for Medicare.”
- Scott has faced Democratic criticism for his party-line vote blocking legislation to protect contraception and IVF, issues that Democrats are using to fire up their base during an election year when many states, including Florida, are deciding abortion-related initiatives.
Orlando Sentinel: ‘IUD Express’ tour stops in Orlando amid calls to protect contraception access
- Speakers at the event Thursday called out U.S. Sen. Rick Scott, who voted against last week’s bill to protect IVF and then released a campaign ad in support of the procedure, explaining that his youngest daughter is currently using it.
- We’ve got to look these politicians in the face that are being complete hypocrites and tell them we believe in health care for everybody,” said U.S. Congressman Maxwell Frost on Thursday.
Axios Tampa: Scoop: Giant inflatable IUD continues Florida tour in Tampa. Here’s where to see it
- U.S. Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.), who is up for re-election in November, voted against a bill that would have codified access to birth control earlier this month.
Miami New Times: Giant Inflatable IUD Descends on Miami
- The IUD-shaped balloon arrived in Miami less than two weeks after Senate Republicans — including Florida’s own Rick Scott and Marco Rubio — blocked a bill that would have protected access to birth control pills, IUDs, emergency contraception, and other contraceptive methods at the federal level. The following week, Republicans blocked a bill that would have ensured federal protections for in vitro fertilization, or IVF, a technology that helps people with infertility conceive.
- Scott, who was among the GOP lawmakers who voted against IVF protections, unveiled an ad on social media less than a day later touting his support for IVF alongside the words: “Each of my 7 grandkids is a precious gift from God. But sometimes families need help. You can count on this grandpa to always protect IVF.”
- “This outsized birth control symbol will never compare to how colossally hypocritical Republicans are on this issue,” Wasserman Schultz scoffed. She added: “Don’t pee on my foot and then tell me it’s raining. These guys have absolutely no shame.”
Axios Miami: Giant IUD visits Miami as contraception advocates begin Florida tour
- Catch up quick: On June 5 — the blow-up’s D.C. debut — Senate Republicans blocked a bill that would have protected access to birth control. Florida Senators Rick Scott and Marco Rubio voted against the legislation.
- What they’re saying: “We can’t let extremists like Rick Scott decide when our daughters, sisters or aunts will start a family,” Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz said during a news conference Tuesday at the courthouse. “All women deserve the right and the freedom to choose IVF, birth control or abortion.”