Vice Chairman Adam Lowe got up from his seat to stand in front of the Bradley County Commission on Monday night as he made the case for supporting Tennessee Legislative Powers Regarding Abortion, Amendment 1.
The goal of this measure is to open the door informed consent legislation, he said.
The measure, which will be on the ballot Nov. 4, reads as follows: Shall Article I, of the Constitution of Tennessee be amended by adding the following language as a new, appropriately designated section, “Nothing in this Constitution secures or protects a right to abortion or requires the funding of an abortion. The people retain the right through their elected state representatives and state senators to enact, amend, or repeal statutes regarding abortion, including, but not limited to, circumstances of pregnancy resulting from rape or incest or when necessary to save the life of the mother.”
Vice Chairman Lowe asked the commission to officially support Amendment 1, saying, “I’ve shaken the hands of fathers who are disenfranchised by abortion. I’ve hugged the necks of women who’ve
carried enduring guilt from having one and I’ve personally called friend, people who have miraculously survived attempts to abort. These experiences and relationships along with my core faith that exalts the value of life, have moved me to action. At present I feel like there is no greater issue for which I can speak, no cause for which I can compel you to act. For your consideration is a resolution supporting the passage of Amendment 1 to our Tennessee constitution. This resolution is in support of four things, political checks and balance, state sovereignty, education, and human reason.”
Vice Chairman Lowe went to state that he is in support of informed consent regulations, as many surrounding states already have them in place and he believes that is causing Tennessee to become an abortion destination because of the relatively lax regulations concerning it.
The current state House candidate also said that it is important that woman are getting all of the information that they need before making a life altering decision and that it is time to give the people back the power in this debate and take it out of the hands of appointed judges who are insulated from accountability.
His statements received applause from those in attendance.
Commissioner Terry Caywood reiterated the sentiments stating that life is sacred and “I don’t want a panel of judges making decisions for the people.”
The Board also discussed adding some oversight to the travel budgets. Commissioner Charlotte Peak-Jones said, “As a taxpayer, I don’t think that any non-required personnel should go on trips on the taxpayers’ dime. I don’t want to pay for a department to send three people when one is required. The corporate world will send a department head to a class that is required, that department head goes back and they teach their department whatever they learned.”
County Mayor D. Gary Davis said that the policy on travel is very general and right now only way to cut back unneeded spending is to cut the budget. He also stated that every department is different and have very different travel needs and costs.
Commissioner Bill Winters stated that the commission should look into the issue closer, agreeing that some more oversight is needed. Vice Chairman Lowe suggested the installation of a zero sum budgeting policy, stating that this would require departments to justify their expenditures and create more transparency.
Commissioner Caywood stated that while more transparency is good, he does not necessarily agree with cutting budgets, because government officials, elected and hired need to attend training in order to properly serve the community.
The next commission meeting is a voting session that will take place on July 7 at 7 p.m.