Commercial Appeal's Ricard Locker ...most accurate on pro life SJR 127.

 Today is a good day in TN regardless of snowfall and school closings. The 107th Tennessee General Assembly  begins its session. This is a big year for pro life advocates as SJR 127 will certainly come up for a vote. We also welcome the most pro life list of legislators. May they not forget why they won election and be  swayed by all the highly paid lobbyists for the abortion industry roaming the halls. The reporters will also be roaming looking for a good sound bite. It is frustrating that no matter how much you try to explain it to them, they can't get it right. Is it because the misinformation is deemed more newsworthy? I hope not. 






Family Action Council /TN  points out some of the misinformation in their email blast today ....

"Yesterday’s Chattanooga Times Free Press reported on SJR 127, saying it “would strip the Tennessee Constitution of any language construed to protect the right to an abortion.” The reporter, who is a friend and actually a good reporter as far as I’m concerned, sort of got it right. He rightly noted that the “right to abortion” in Tennessee’s constitution was a consequence of judicial construction. There is, in fact, no language in the state constitution regarding abortion."

I don't know how many times this particular reporter has been given the correct language and explanation of SJR 127. Every time I see it, I write and correct him.   Fowler goes on to The Scene, a liberal rag  who like the umpire who does not call it like he sees it but sees it like he calls it.

"Of course, the November 11, 2010, edition of the Nashville Scene takes the prize for inaccuracy and hyperbole by saying SJR 127 “would amend the state constitution to strip abortion rights and force women to have the babies of even their rapist.”

Freedom from Coercion bill advances in TN House/Senate

This bill which simply states that facilities that perform abortions will post signage advising what the current law says about anyone being coerced against their will to have an abortion. Should be a bill that flows pretty quickly through the process since  we see signs all over the place advising us of what our rights are under the law. This bill did pass through the House full commitee yesterday and is on the way to the Calendar and Rules committee. In the full committee of the Health and Human Servies , the only vocal opposition came from staunch friend to the abortion industry, Sherry Jones (D) Nashville. She attempted to attach a hostile amendment to the billl that states that the sign should say that no one can coerce you into having or not having an abortion. Rep. Barrett Rich (R) Sommerville made a motion to move that amendment to the table pointing out that this amendment she was advancing was   putting up a sign about a law that currently does not exist. Jones insisted that this amendment would establish the law and therefore the signage. Sponsor Rep. Susan Lynn (R) Mt. Juliet objected stating she was not trying to write new law but to advise women of their rights under existing law. The bill passed with one dissenting vote.
On the Senate side in the Judiciary committee, there was a small objection from Senator Beverly Marrerro (D) Memphis but she did not go on as long as Jones did. She questioned how many TN women reported being coerced when the bill sponsor Senator Jack Johnson gave national statistics of 60% of women report that they felt coerced into abortions. The bill passed out of the committee as well.

Criminal offense against a pregnant woman-fetus is second victim

Criminal Offenses - As introduced, specifies that when a defendant commits a homicide or assault against a pregnant woman, the woman's fetus, regardless of viability, is also considered a victim of the offense. - Amends TCA Section 39-13-107 and Section 39-13-214.
Sponsored by Joshua Evans (R)Robertson County

Passed on a voice vote the in the House Health and Human Resources full committee and is on the way to Ways and Means. Rep. Richardson asked for an AG opinion but it has been two weeks and has not yet arrived. It is currently a law in 26 other states and in 2 other states it is by the age of viability which Rep. Evans correctly points out is a "moving target" with medical advances.  Rep. Richardson passes.

Update on resolution to honor ACLU chief Weinberg....it is on the table

Nashville Scenes, Jeff Woods, published this update last night.... "In the House, Republicans already have bumped the resolution from the consent calendar, where such measures are usually adopted unanimously. It's on tonight's House agenda for a separate up-or-down vote. Fireworks are likely." "Update: The House postponed voting on the resolution at the request of the sponsor, Rep. Brenda Gilmore, D-Nashville. There was no debate."
Commenter on the original post points out that when it was on the Senate side, Senator Beavers bumped it from the consent calendar to the regular calendar one time and when it came up again, she tried once more to bump it and was told to vote no or pass but you can't vote no on the consent calendar, you can only pass. Remember four passed, Beavers, Black, Tracy and Southerland.


We may see this come up again but as Humphrey on the Hill points out in his article , some Dems outside of the urban areas might feel uncomfortable defending their support.