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State Senate debates abortion amendment The Tennessee State Senate will vote Monday on a controversial resolution that would add language about abortion to the state constitution. The words of the resolution sponsored by Sen. David Fowler are simple. "The words say nothing in this constitution protects or secure the right to an abortion or requires the funding thereof," said Sen. Fowler. The resolution is a response to the state supreme court striking down previous abortion restrictions pass by lawmakers. "This is an effort not only to take away the independence of the judiciary, but also to also to remove rights from a particular community," said Tennessee ACLU head Hedy Weinberg. During a packed committee hearing last month, an amendment was made to the resolution that would allow abortion in the case of rape, incest or to protect the life of a mother. But News 2 has learned that another amendment will be brought up in the Monday debate - this one hoping to forge a compromise. Amendment sponsor Mark Norris says that it includes the word "saving" instead of "protecting" the life of a mother in cases of rape or incest. Sen. Norris said, "[We want] to continue showing sensitivity to those instances without leaving leaving this issue exclusively in the courts." The resolution to change the constitution must pass both houses this year, then by a 2/3 majority next year, so it can be put to voters statewide in 2006. The resolution goes before the full Senate early Monday evening. |
