‘Heartbeat bill’ sent to summer study

Senate Speaker Randy McNally (R-Oak Ridge), center, attends an economic development announcement in Nashville. At left is Gov. Bill Lee and on the right is House Speaker Glen Casada (R-Franklin). (Erik Schelzig, Tennessee Journal).
The Senate Judiciary Committee has decided to punt on a bill seeking to ban abortions in Tennessee once a fetal heartbeat is detected. The House passed the measure in a floor vote, but the Senate decided not to proceed over concerns about a successful legal challenge.
Here’s what Senate Speaker Randy McNally (R-Oak Ridge) had to say after the committee action on Wednesday:
I fully support the deliberative approach the Judiciary Committee is taking on the Heartbeat Bill. As someone who believes life begins at conception, I support the bill philosophically. But constitutionally, as Tennessee Right to Life points out, the bill is flawed in its current form. Amendment One put the abortion industry on the ropes in Tennessee. We have done all we can to defund Planned Parenthood. We have put in place reasonable restrictions to help prevent abortion. Passing a constitutionally suspect bill now would give the courts an opportunity to erase the progress we have made. And a losing court fight would likely result in awarding taxpayer money to Planned Parenthood. Protection of the unborn is too important to risk taking a step backward. I appreciate the sponsor bringing this legislation. It deserves the best possible chance for success. But that chance can only be achieved by careful study.
Well I guess they can adjourn after dealing with the license plates…. oh… and the budget..
Casada has a few more Tinder dates at Bar Louie before they can adjourn.
Another option for a big decrease in abortions is free birth control. How about a bill for that?
Every kid in America knows about birth control and has access to birth control for free if they really want it. Having a child out of marriage is now the norm in big parts of America with little to no stigma and lots of potential benefit for the young woman. There is no certainty at all that free birth control impacts abortion rates.
Every kid knows about porn too. Does that make it okay? Birth control is abortion!
When the time comes I hope it’s DOA and can’t be resuscitated.
You mean like the babies?
I want a list published as to who voted not to pass the heartbeat bill!! That way,I know who not to vote for in the next election!!
Me Too, as well as why they voted that way!
The Republicans were:Mike Bell (R-Riceville), Todd Gardenhire (R-Chattanooga), Jon Lundberg (R-Bristol), John Stevens (R-Huntingdon). There was a Democrat (duh) but I don’t have their name handy.
They’re all Democrats who support Bingo. I bet the kids take lottery scholarship money, too. I will pray for them.
The problem is this: THERE IS A GOD… YOU will be Judged
In the meantime what if your flesh &!blood was snuffed
Out, your legacy murdered. If you can’t do the correct thing
Get out of the people’s government
They killed the bill.
That heartbeat is the heartbeat of GOD…the blood of our precious innocent babies will be on your hands…pure and simple truth!!!
Vote out the RINOs. MEERY CHRISTMAS!
When will we stop electing politicians claiming to be conservatives, but voting against the will of the majority of their constituents? They try to justify bad decisions, like the gas tax increase and inaction on this bill. They haven’t listened to us in the past, and they aren’t listening now. We need a genuine, conservative senator representing Loudon County, and I hope to have a choice in the next primary!
Susan, we need so much more than simply “. . .a genuine, conservative senator representing Loudon County. . . for the reasons you so clearly lay out. Please don’t forget the Toadying Ten (Calfee, Carr, Crawford, Faison, Helton, Moon, Ramsey, Tillis, Travis, Wright) who voted against closing Republican primaries when an overwhelming majority of Republicans believe that’s exactly what needs to be done. We conservatives have to get better at turning establishment Republicans out of office if we ever want to make any political progress I’m afraid.
Vote them out. No more bingo or pork! MEERY CHRISTMAS
Yes…getting politicians to vote the will of the people is Very Important???? That’s going to be a lot of fun when the disgruntled, irresponsible, an riders-in-the-wagon become the Majority in this country.
It’s not like we didn’t expect our Senator to fold. It was planned all along. Weak R’s and D’s need to be primaries!
Every minute you deliberate on man made laws, a baby is murdered!!!!!
Go back to the Laws of GOD, and see how your argument stands!
SHAME And DISGRACE!!!!!!!! STAND for GOD, STAND for our BABIES!!!!!
Every minute…..how many more lives are lost because you couldn’t STAND?
The Bible says that abortion is wrong. Not only do some of these senators deciding not to act on this bill claim to be conservatives, they also claim to be Christians!
This is what happens when you legalize the Powerball.
And when women cut their hair.
The political winds are swaying to the left here in Tennessee! Obvious by Governor we have and Senators and their noncommittal voting. God in Heaven is watching but we voters need be praying for our elections. Nashville and Memphis are already in line with Chicago and New York with their liberal views! Evil seeping from these cities is spreading to the conservative areas! TennCare is being abused illegals abound using EBT cards and politicians are working on what they can gain from office. No patriotism just greed.