Pro-Abortion Senator
Graves Refuses to Hear Constituents

March 4, 2004—Nashville: With only four days remaining until Monday, March 8’s historic Senate vote on pro-life resolution SJR 127, members of the Senate heard from Deputy Attorney General Andy Bennett on Wednesday afternoon. His testimony underscored the fact that, without passing such a pro-life constitutional amendment, state legislators will have no ability to enact even the most basic, common sense protections in Tennessee.

Should Roe v. Wade fall tomorrow, not one life would be saved in Tennessee nor could we begin to enact informed consent, waiting periods, clinic regulation or other provisions because Tennessee’s Constitution has been wrongly interpreted to include a broad, fundamental right to abortion.

During Wednesday’s debate, your state senator, JoAnn Graves, was among those most outspoken in her opposition to allowing a public vote on pro-life SJR 127.

Near the end of the senate discussion, state Senator Graves challenged the deputy attorney general on whether or not the public approval of SJR 127 would remove the recently identified ‘state right to abortion.’ “If that (SJR 127) passed without any amendments on it, under the state constitution, would the woman have a right to abortion?”

Deputy Attorney General Bennett responded that under the court’s current 4-1 pro-abortion ruling, the Tennessee Constitution limits the ability of the General Assembly to legislate or regulate abortion in Tennessee.

Pro-abortion Senator Graves then stated “None of us like abortion, none of us are for abortion…(but) we are playing a dangerous, dangerous game here. I’m going to support Senator Herron’s (gutting) amendment.”

In essence, state Senator Graves is acknowledging her support for allowing the courts---not the people or our elected representatives-- to continue determining what policies will govern the practice of abortion in Tennessee.

ACTION:
Please contact state Senator Graves and remind her that, regardless of her personal pro-abortion views, she ought to allow every Tennessean to have a say. Ask her to Let the People Vote in 2006 on the restoration of common sense protections.

Vote Yes on SJR 127 without the gutting Herron-Clabough Amendment!

Please contact Senator Graves:
4 Legislative Plaza
Nashville 37243-0218
Phone: 615-741-1654
sen.joann.graves@legislature.state.tn.us

Click here for more information about Senator Graves.

Let the People Vote! Support SJR 127