The Tennessee Senate today approved a proposal to amend the Tennessee Constitution so that it doesn't guarantee the right to abortion.

The vote was 24-to-9.

Senator David Fowler -- a Republican from Signal Mountain -- sponsored the resolution which states nothing in the state constitution "secures or protects a right to abortion."

Abortion rights supporters are attacking the measure as a stepping stone to prohibiting all abortions in Tennessee if the U.S. Supreme Court overturns the landmark abortion decision in Roe versus Wade. The court is expected to get a chance to do that over a new law in South Dakota that would ban abortion.

Amending the Tennessee Constitution requires the measure to pass both chambers in one General Assembly, then to pass both chambers with a two-thirds majority in the next General Assembly and then to be put to voters.

The Senate passed Fowler's resolution last year but it stalled in House committee.


http://www.wbir.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=32607

The supreme court has already started down that slippery slope with a recent decision regarding protests outside abortion clinics. Unfortunately, I'm not even sure my vote counts after the last couple of elections, but I still plan on getting out and voting on that one when it comes up.