Another abortion bill passes first legislative test
NASHVILLE (AP) — A bill that would institute a 24-hour waiting period and other abortion restrictions in Tennessee passed its first legislative test on Wednesday.
The bill was approved 7-1, with one member abstaining, by the House Public Health and Family Assistance Subcommittee — the same group that voted 5-4 last week against a constitutional amendment to restrict abortion rights.
Three of the five women whose ‘no’ votes defeated the amendment last week — Democratic Reps. Lois DeBerry, Janice Sontany and Sherry Jones — voted in favor of the measure brought by Rep. Phillip Pinion, D-Union City. A fourth, committee chairwoman Rep. Mary Pruitt, was recorded as present but not voting.
“This piece of legislation that we’re looking at today is not going to be restrictive, I don’t believe, and will serve the people who need to continue to make those choices,” said Jones, of Nashville.
Rep. Beverly Marrero, D-Memphis, was the only woman who voted against it.
“I can’t support any legislation that will take away the rights from any women in Tennessee,” she said. “… There are a lot of women out there who really don’t want their choices cut down by a bunch of men in the Legislature.”
A Senate version of the bill has not yet been introduced because legislation presented after a certain date must first go through the chamber’s Delayed Bills Committee. As of Wednesday, it had not been approved by the committee members, Lt. Gov. John Wilder, Democratic Leader Ward Crutchfield and Republican Leader Ben Atchley.
The measure has provisions similar to ones struck down by the state Supreme Court four years ago.
It would require the woman to sign an informed consent form acknowledging she had been fully apprised of the risks of abortion as well as childbirth, been told of other options such as adoption, and given at least a general description of the medical procedure itself.
It also would require abortions to be performed by licensed physicians and provides exceptions to the restrictions in cases where it is necessary to protect the life or health of the mother.
The 24-hour waiting period is half as long as the waiting period that was struck down by the court.
“The key to this bill is that it eliminates the obstacles that have been defined by the court,” Pinion said. “It’s reasonable, it’s not a burden.”
Pinion also said the attorney general had signed off on the bill, opining that it is “defensible under the United States Constitution and the Constitution of Tennessee.”
Critics of the bill who supported the constitutional amendment said afterward it was election year “political maneuvering” by Democrats.
“They are using it in order to gain cover for themselves back in their districts,” said Karen Brukardt, legislative liaison for Tennessee Right to Life. “(So) they can say, ‘Look how pro-life I am, I voted for this bill.’ It’s a sham bill.”
Pinion objected to the characterization.
“This is not any type of political maneuvering,” he said. “I have a 16-year record in this Legislature standing for things I believe in and things I hold dear.
“… I make no apologies. I am pro-life.”
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On the Net:
Read HB3592 at Tennessee General Assembly, www.legislature.state.tn.us