Proposed Amendment Would Allow Tennessee to Ban Partial-Birth Abortion

Vanity | April 28, 2008 | Vanity

[Tennessee Nana]

Proposed Amendment Would Allow Tennessee to Ban Partial-Birth Abortion

House rules must be suspended by 2/3 of members for the majority to get a fair vote.

About a week ago I sent you an urgent message asking you to contact members of the Tennessee House to urge their support for SJR 127. It is the proposed constitutional amendment that will allow Tennessee to pass a Constitutionally sound ban on partial-birth abortion.

I just wanted to give you a friendly reminder that there is still time to act. And, in fact, your action now may be more important than before. (I'll explain).

Over the last week, each member of the Tennessee House received at least 1,000 emails. That is more than 100,000 emails altogether! You may have also seen some of the media coverage from our media tour.

But that's not the even the big news.

The big news is that we are now closer than ever to passing SJR 127 in the House. We now have a majority of House members formally pledged to vote to suspend the rules to bring it to the floor and to vote for it.

This is where you come in...

We have identified 20 House members who could, shall we say, use a little encouragement. (Actually, five of the 20 have committed to voting for SJR 127 privately, but we're not sharing their names unless they make a formal pledge as over half the members have done already).

If it was urgent for you to act last week, it is critical that you act now!

You see, time is running out. The legislature will adjourn soon and they must Suspend the Rules to allow enough time for the resolution to be passed.

It is critical that at least 16 of the 20 targeted Representatives agree to Suspend the Rules, regardless of whether they vote for the resolution.

Please send an email and call at least three Representatives on the list (below) nearest to where you live. It doesn't matter if they are your Representative or not. Your Representative may be among those being denied a right to vote on SJR 127 if these 20 don't let them.

Your emails are important, but phone calls are even more valuable. Your phone call is doubly important if you live in an area represented by one of the 20 we are targeting. You may even want to try to visit their office at the Capitol this week (if so, let me know by hitting reply so I know to make sure you have the information you need).

Also, please forward this message to everyone you know who lives in any of these areas.

Here are the Representatives to call (please call at least three nearest to you):

Representative's Name Home Town District Description Nashville Ph. 615-741-6804 In-District Ph. 731-584-4326

Rep. Willie Butch Borchert Camden Henry, Benton, and Stewart counties Nashville Ph. 615-741-6804 In-District Ph. 731-584-4326

Rep. Frank Buck Dowelltown DeKalb, Smith, and Macon counties Nashville Ph. 615-741-3817 In-District Ph. 615-548-8411

Rep. Kent Coleman Murfreesboro Part of Rutherford county Nashville Ph. 615-741-6829 In-District Ph. 615-893-1134

Rep. John DeBerry Memphis Part of Shelby county Nashville Ph. 615-741-2239 In-District Ph. 901-725-0130

Rep. Dennis Ferguson Midtown Roane county and part of Loudon Nashville Ph. 615-741-7658 In-District Ph. 865-882-5930

Rep. Henry Fincher Cookeville Part of Putnam county Nashville Ph. 615-741-1875

Rep. John Litz Morristown Hamblen county Nashville Ph. 615-741-1041

Rep. John Hood Murfreesboro Part of Rutherford county Nashville Ph. 615-741-7849 In-District Ph. 615-893-4651

Rep. Mark Maddox Dresden Weakley county and part of Carroll Nashville Ph. 615-741-7847 In-District Ph. 731-364-2685

Rep. Mike McDonald Portland Part of Sumner county Nashville Ph. 615-741-1980 In-District Ph. 615-888-3081

Rep. Joe McCord Maryville Parts of Blount & Sevier counties Nashville Ph. 615-741-5481 In-District Ph. 865-984-5881

Rep. Phillip Pinion Union City Obion, Lake and part of Dyer counties Nashville Ph. 615-741-0718 In-District Ph. 731-885-9175

Rep. Joe Pitts Clarksville Montgomery County Nashville Ph. 615-741-2043

Rep. David Shepard Dickson Dickson and part of Hickman counties Nashville Ph. 615-741-3513 In-District Ph. 615-446-9782

Rep. John Tidwell New Johnsonville Houston, Humphreys, Perry, and parts of Hickman & Maury Nashville Ph. 615-741-7098 In-District Ph. 931-535-2619

Rep. Harry Tindell Knoxville Part of Knox County Nashville Ph. 615-741-2031 In-District Ph. 865-524-7200

Rep. Mike Turner Old Hickory Part of Davidson county Nashville Ph. 615-741-3229 In-District Ph. 615-847-0002

Rep. Ben West Hermitage Donelson, Hermitage & Antioch part of Davidson county Nashville Ph. 615-741-6959 In-District Ph. 615-889-0801

Rep. John Mark Windle Livingston Fentress, Morgan & Overton counties Nashville Ph. 615-741-1260 In-District Ph. 931-823-3970

Rep. Eddie Yokley Greeneville Cocke and part of Greene counties Nashville Ph. 615-741-6871 In-District Ph. 423-639-6200

If you want more information about the proposed Constitutional amendment before proceeding, go to:

http://www.lifepetition.org.

You will also find answers to objections legislators may raise to supporting SJR 127 or to Suspending the Rules to assist you when you call.

Trust me, your action will make a difference with these legislators.

David Fowler

For more information, go to: www.LifePetition.org

[Tennessee Nana]

From an Email

[KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle]

Ping.

[Tennessee Nana]

Tennessee PING

Tell other Tennesseans to call too...

[Between the Lines]

Bump

[tennteacher]

Thanks for the ping. Will make calls TODAY.

[cva66snipe]

Thanks for the info.