Tenn. Senate Committee Passes Amendment To State Constitution That Would Limit Abortion

Main Category: Abortion
Article Date: 10 Jan 2008 - 7:00 PDT

email to a friend   printer friendly   view / write opinions   rate article

The Tennessee Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday voted 6-2 to approve a proposed antiabortion amendment (SJR 127) to the state's constitution stating that "nothing in this constitution secures or protects a right to abortion or requires the funding of an abortion," the AP/Memphis Daily News reports (Johnson, AP/Memphis Daily News, 1/9).

The proposed amendment -- sponsored by Sen. Diane Black (R), chair of the Senate Republican Caucus -- seeks to reverse a 2000 state Supreme Court decision that struck down some state restrictions on abortion, including a 48-hour waiting period, a requirement that women receive detailed information about the procedure and a requirement that all abortions after the first trimester be performed at a hospital (Humphrey, Knoxville News-Sentinel/Memphis Commercial Appeal, 1/8). "The only way to restore these common-sense protections is to place language in our constitution that allows us to do that," Black said.

Some abortion-rights supporters said the proposal is a first step in prohibiting all abortions in Tennessee in the event that Roe v. Wade is overturned. Sen. Beverly Marrero (D), who voted against the resolution in the committee, said, "This is a flagrant attempt to try to have the government intervene in what should be between a woman and those people that are close to her" (AP/Memphis Daily News, 1/9).

The proposal must pass both the Senate and House by a simple majority in this year's General Assembly and then pass each chamber by a two-thirds vote in the next General Assembly. If approved both times, the proposal would then be added to the state ballot in 2010. If the proposal is not approved this year, it will be ineligible for the ballot until at least 2014, the AP/Maryville Daily Times reports (Schelzig, AP/Maryville Daily Times, 1/8). Efforts to pass a similar amendment failed in 2003 and 2006. According to the News-Sentinel/Commercial Appeal, the measure could be brought before the full Senate as early as Thursday (Knoxville News-Sentinel/Memphis Commercial Appeal, 1/8).

Reprinted with kind permission from http://www.nationalpartnership.org. You can view the entire Daily Women's Health Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery here. The Daily Women's Health Policy Report is a free service of the National Partnership for Women & Families, published by The Advisory Board Company.

© 2007 The Advisory Board Company. All rights reserved.