SJR127, the resolution sponsored by Senator Diane Black (R-Gallatin) that states that “nothing in Constitution of Tennessee secures or protects right to abortion or requires the funding of an abortion; states that the people retain the right through their elected state representatives and state senators to enact, amend, or repeal statutes regarding abortion, including, but not limited to, circumstances of pregnancy resulting from rape or incest or when necessary to save the life of the mother,” passed the Senate last night, 24-8. The vote was as follows:
Senators voting aye were: Beavers, Black, Bunch, Burchett, Burks, Crowe, Faulk, Finney L, Gresham, Henry, Jackson, Johnson, Ketron, McNally, Norris, Overbey, Southerland, Stanley, Stewart, Tracy, Watson, Woodson, Yager, Mr. Speaker Ramsey — 24.
Senators voting no were: Barnes, Berke, Ford, Harper, Haynes, Herron, Marrero, Tate — 8.
An amendment [pdf] introduced by Senator Doug Jackson (D-Dickson) that would have given a sick woman the option to end her pregnancy in order to save her life, failed. The vote:
Senators voting aye were: Beavers, Black, Bunch, Burchett, Crowe, Faulk, Gresham, Johnson, Ketron, McNally, Norris, Overbey, Southerland, Stanley, Tracy, Watson, Woodson, Yager, Mr. Speaker Ramsey — 19.
Senators voting no were: Barnes, Berke, Burks, Finney L, Ford, Harper, Haynes, Herron, Jackson, Marrero, Stewart, Tate — 12.
Senators present and not voting were: Henry — 1.
The resolution now goes to the House where Senator Black says it will pass. She may be right. Since the GOP took control of the House in November, there are more legislators like Senator Black who as doctors and health care providers, feel they know better than the women of Tennessee what’s best for their reproductive health.
[...] by Rachel on March 24, 2009 Liberadio! has details. In short, SJR127 passed the state Senate, and specifies that: “nothing in Constitution of [...]
Doug Henry might need to hear from constituents, not only regarding his support of SJR127 but his chicken-shit refusal to vote on the Jackson amendment. For those who don’t remember, Henry is the senator who said that “rape” was just women changing their minds after the fact.
I relish the day when we can replace him with a REAL Democrat.
I don’t detect a “bless his heart” anywhere in your comment, Beale, but that’s what usually follows a bad or missed Henry vote. He wanders a lot, you know.