Abortion revision clears Tennessee Senate | Nashville Tennessean

[Ediacara]

Abortion revision clears Senate


ALAN POIZNER
Supporters of limiting abortion rights hold
a prayer outside the state Senate Chambers
yesterday after the Senate passed a proposed
amendment saying the state constitution does
not guarantee a right to abortion.

The state Senate voted last night to strip abortion guarantees from the Tennessee Constitution, overriding concerns of some members that victims of rape and incest and women whose lives are endangered will not be guaranteed abortions.

The measure moves to the House, where some Democrats hope abortion exceptions in those three instances can be added to the language of the proposed constitutional amendment.

''It's a loss today — a woman has absolutely no right,'' said Senate Speaker Pro Tem JoAnn Graves, D-Gallatin, who said she is against abortion except in the three circumstances.

More at the Nashville Tennessean

[bluestateguy]

1. If R v. W is overturned

The battleground will switch to the states. Most blue states will keep abortion legal, most red states will outlaw it. If that happens we will set up the most expensive, the most elaborate and far reaching underground railroad necessary to transport women from red states into blue states where they will be able to get abortions.

[drhilarius]

4. The scary thing is,

and this is purely hypothetical, I could see the red states passing laws (if r v. w is overturned) saying it's illegal to transport a fetus across state lines for the purposes of an abortion( this is not impossible given the latest senate bill expanding fetal rights). Women could be charged with kidnapping and murder. What would be next? Fugitive Women acts? It's a terrible thing to think about.

[Voltaire99]

2. Why is it that packs of Americans with their heads bowed...

...often signals the greatest and most pernicious mischief?

The Tennesseans will have their little theocracy, it seems. Woe unto the women whom they will turn into their God-fearing, dish-washing incubators.

[jsw_81]

3. What is it with these southern freaks?

Look idiots, this is not a fucking theocracy and abortion is legal. Deal with it.

[jsw_81]

5. And what's with all the Democrats who voted for this nonsense?

[NashVegas]

6. FINALLY - Bredesen Speaks!

Gov. Phil Bredesen has joined Democratic senators in accusing Republicans of pursuing a radical right wing agenda in an election year by pushing legislation such as the constitutional amendment on abortion and the civil unions bill.

“It bothers me a little bit that at a time when we have so many issues that these kind of wedge divisive issues are getting the kind of attention and play in the Senate that they have,” Bredesen said. “I particularly don’t like the idea of messing around with the constitution in a political year.

“… There are some 20 bills up there at the moment that seek constitutional amendments and when the constitution is changed I think it ought to be something that’s done with great consideration over a period of time, definitely not to be part of electioneering in an election year, and I’m concerned about the increasing level to which that’s happening,” Bredesen said.

Senate Democratic Caucus Chair Joe Haynes accused Senate Republicans of “focusing their legislative efforts on a radical social agenda” at the expense of Tennessee citizens.

http://nashvillecitypaper.com/index.cfm?section_id=9&screen=news&news_id=32000

I'm just so pissed off. The Dems here have a clear majority in both houses and have the Governor's chair. And they are wimps on this stuff, with few exceptions. Last week the abortion bill was temporarily derailed when the Dems slipped in language allowing exceptions for rape, incest, and life-threatening, and the Pukes got pissed and yanked it. That's how radical these guys are. Time to stop the parliamentary crap and go for hearts and minds, IMO.