Comcast, the media giant that owns NBCUniversal and a news division that includes left-leaning MSNBC, donated $50,000 this month to Florida Governor Ron DeSantis‘s political action committee (PAC) working to block an abortion-rights initiative in the state, according to campaign finance records.
The donation to DeSantis’s Florida Freedom Fund supports efforts to block a state constitutional amendment aimed at safeguarding abortion rights, fueling criticism of “corporate hypocrisy.”
Just two years ago, Comcast announced it would cover abortion-related travel expenses for employees, providing up to $10,000 annually following the Supreme Court‘s overturning of Roe v. Wade.
People visit the Top of the Rock observation deck behind a Comcast corporate logo at the top of 30 Rock in Rockefeller Center seen from the Empire State Building on May 8, 2023, in New York City. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis gives a victory speech at the Tampa Convention Center on November 8, 2022 in Tampa, Florida.
Gary Hershorn / Octavio Jones /Getty Images
“It’s an example of vile corporate hypocrisy. I would encourage everyone in Florida to think about which company they choose to give their money to,” said Anna Hochkammer, executive director of the Florida Women’s Freedom Coalition, in an interview with The Bulwark, which was first to surface the Sept. 12 donation.
That coalition helped draft the proposed constitutional amendment and gathered the signatures to place it before voters on November 5.
Newsweek reached out to Comcast for comment on Wednesday.
The ballot initiative, known as Amendment 4, would enshrine abortion rights in Florida law. If approved by 60 percent of voters, the procedure would remain legal until the fetus is viable, as determined by the patient’s health care provider.
A screenshot of Florida Freedom Fund’s quarterly contributions, showing a $50,000 donation from Comcast.
In May, Florida banned almost all abortions after six weeks of pregnancy, which the Florida Freedom Fund is seeking to maintain as law. Before that law went into effect, the state had some of the least restrictive abortion laws in the Southeast, and more than 7,000 women traveled to Florida from across the region for the procedure.
Now, Florida has one of the strictest abortion laws in the country, banning most abortions before many women even realize they are pregnant.
The Sunshine State is emerging as a critical battleground for abortion rights as the 2024 election season intensifies. Vice President Kamala Harris has made the issue a priority, while former President Donald Trump has drawn criticism for his wavering stance.
At one point, Trump described Florida’s six-week abortion ban as “too harsh” before later reversing his position under pressure from conservative allies.
“I think the six weeks is too short. It has to be more time,” he said.
While public opinion polls suggest that Amendment 4 enjoys broad support among Floridians, surpassing the 60 percent threshold required for a constitutional amendment is a challenge.
An August poll released by Florida Atlantic University (FAU) and Mainstreet USA found 56 percent of Sunshine State voters supporting the proposed amendment, falling short of the required number to become law. Interestingly, more women said they would vote for Amendment 4 than men, 59 percent to 54 percent.
Still, the most recent numbers represent an increase from April, when the amendment had 49 percent support.
