State Senate passes anti-abortion constitutional amendment

For the fourth time in seven years, the state Senate passed a constitutional amendment today to remove any guarantees for a right to an abortion within the state constitution.

The Senate passed the amendment 23-9. All 16 Republicans supported the resolution as well as six Democrats and one Independent.

“This is something that I think is a good day for the people of Tennessee to restore to the people the power of their constitution,” said Sen. Diane Black (R-Gallatin), the sponsor of the constitutional amendment. “And I’m looking forward that this will get full debate over in the House and hopefully passage there.”

Since a 2000 state Supreme Court decision struck down some abortion restrictions, the state Senate has passed a constitutional amendment similar to the one passed today every General Assembly - 2001, 2004, 2006 and now 2008.

The amendment would not ban abortions in Tennessee, but would allow the legislature to enact “common sense protections” regarding them, proponents say.

Each time, however, the amendment has either been defeated in a House subcommittee or not been acted upon.

When asked why this year should be any different, Black said: “You never know what’s going to happen.”

Democrats repeatedly tried to add exceptions for rape, incest and when the life of the mother is endangered to the constitutional amendment, but were defeated each time with unanimous GOP opposition.

“I would vote for it today if it had those protections for victims, but it does not,” said Sen. Roy Herron (D-Dresden).

The amendment, as passed by the Senate today, would write the following into the Tennessee Constitution: “Nothing in this Constitution secures or protects a right to abortion or requires the funding of an abortion. The people retain the right through their elected state representatives and state senators to enact, amend, or repeal statutes regarding abortion, including circumstances of pregnancy resulting from rape or incest or when necessary to save the life of the mother.”