Since the Supreme Court decided to strip away over 50 years of constitutional protections for a woman's right to choose, 41 states have enacted abortion bans with some limited exceptions. Under the GOP-led supermajority in the state legislature and governor's mansion, Florida joined this group after passing a 6-week abortion ban this year. In our state, abortion clinics have found themselves under threat from such draconian measures.
One of these providers, A Woman's World Medical Center, struggles to serve patients as the only abortion clinic in the entire Treasure Coast. In 2010, the clinic gained national attention after being featured in the Peabody award-winning documentary "12th and Delaware." In 2024, the 30-year-old provider may shut down services entirely.
The state's campaign against abortion access severely undermines the universal right to reproductive health care in Florida. As 14,735 Floridians received abortions this year alone, the state continues to assail one of the cornerstones of public health. I am running for the State Senate to protect all of public health, from reproductive freedoms to expanding Florida's Medicaid/Medicare program to banning harmful "forever chemicals" in our environment.
What are the Issues? The Solutions?
Abortion Rights Under Attack.
In May of 2024, the Florida legislature enacted a 6-week abortion ban after the Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health decision by the conservative-leaning Supreme Court in 2022. The law bans abortion after 6 weeks of pregnancy, which is when most people are not even aware of being pregnant. The ban includes exceptions for cases where the pregnant mother's life or a "major bodily function" is in danger, instances of rape, and if the fetus has a "fatal fetal abnormality." Nevertheless, if the mother does not obtain an abortion within the 6-week window, under Florida law, she would be forced to carry the pregnancy to term.
We can change this. In a two-part ruling, the Florida Supreme Court upheld the abortion ban and permitted Florida voters to vote on an amendment that would enshrine abortion access in the Florida Constitution. I wholeheartedly support Amendment 4 and encourage all Floridians to vote in favor of protecting abortion access. We already have momentum; almost a 2/3rds majority -60%- of Florida voters support the initiative.
The Gap in Health Insurance Coverage.
Under the Affordable Care Act or ACA, states can expand Medicaid coverage to adults with incomes up to 138% of the poverty level (approximately $20,780 annually for an individual or $35,630 for a family of three.) Research has shown that expanding Medicaid gives people a healthier and financially secure future, yet Florida is one of 10 states that have failed to expand the program (since 2014). There is a "health insurance coverage gap" for those with too much to qualify for Medicaid but too little to obtain subsidies from the health insurance industry.
Close the Gap by Expanding Medicaid. I firmly support the grassroots effort by advocates to place the constitutional amendment on the Florida ballot in 2026 to expand Medicaid eligibility. As mentioned, the amendment would cover families of three whose income falls between $8,000 (the threshold to get Medicaid) and $25,820 (the qualification for subsidies from insurance providers). Medicaid must be available for adoptive parents, in-house family caretakers of those on Medicaid/Medicare, first responders, and government employees. Florida would receive 3.5 billion dollars over 2 years from the federal government with Medicaid expansion. This would cover uninsured citizens in District 31.
Dangerous "Forever Chemicals" in the Treasure Coast
Along with 300 municipalities, the city of Stuart received a 10.3 billion dollar settlement from the massive chemical manufacturer 3M for contaminating the Treasure Coast's water systems with dangerous "forever chemicals." Also known as PFAs, they do not break down in the natural environment and have been linked to severe health issues such as immune-system damage and some cancers. Chemical manufacturers have used these harmful compounds in products such as firefighting foam, clothing, and cookware. More importantly, PFAs present a significant danger to Florida due to its dependence on coastal waterways for seafood consumption.
Join States in Banning PFAs. Florida must join other states in phasing out and banning the presence of PFAs in the environment and our everyday products, such as apparel, cleaning, cookware, and menstrual products.
My Commitment;
The current state legislature has shown repeatedly that they are willing to undermine the will of the people which is why Floridians have had to increasingly rely on ballot initiatives to exercise democratic power. This is why it is crucial to elect me to be sure that we have legislators that will uphold the will of the people. As the son of a mother who worked for 30 years as a healthcare administrator with Martin Memorial Health Services, I understand the necessity of upholding a compassionate and effective public healthcare system. I have been active in my community of Stuart since the Covid-19 pandemic and have worked with countless non-profit organizations. We must strengthen public health policies already on the books, carry out a statewide Medicaid expansion, and create regulations against harmful chemicals in consumer products. We also must work to restore a woman's right to choose in the state constitution this November. If elected to the State Senate, I will tirelessly bolster women's reproductive rights and prioritize public health.
IF YOU BELIEVE THIS ISSUE DESERVES TOP-OF-MIND ATTENTION, VOTE AARON HAWKINS FOR STATE SENATE DISTRICT 31.
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