I normally try to keep my posts on the fun, lighter side of life in Music City, but there’s just something about election time that begs me to break out my trusty soap box and encourage readers to educate themselves about serious issues and then VOTE!
Sure we’ve talked AMP and the traffic frustrations West End’ers face daily… and we’ve talked Common Core and the myriad of frustrations that issue brings… but when legislators start proposing amendments to our state constitution, those are real game changers that get my attention!
This election year, Tennesseans will have four proposed amendments to vote on. Amendments 3 and 4 seem pretty benign… no state income tax and allowing gaming to support veteran’s charities. It’s Amendments 1 and 2 that are cause for concern… some might even say “cause for alarm!”
Let’s start with Amendment 2… this proposed change affects the way our State Supreme Court and Appellate Court Judges are chosen. Right now, citizens vote for those judges at election time, but Amendment 2 proposes to remove our vote.
That’s worth saying again.
Amendment 2 proposes to remove our vote! (At first, anyway…)
If this amendment is passed, Tennesseans will no longer vote for State Supreme Court and Appellate Court Judges. Instead, the governor will choose them with a two-thirds majority approval in both state houses. Then… after their 8-year term, we get to vote whether to keep them on the bench or not.
There’s not much debate or hype to be found about this proposed amendment, but the government attempting to take away our collective voice on any issue is a very serious matter.
And now for the real hot button… Amendment 1.
This amendment proposes changes regarding our abortion laws, and nothing stirs emotions on both sides quite like this debate!
According to the State’s website this is the paragraph that Amendment 1 (if passed) will add to our Constitution… “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.”
According to their website, www.YesOn1Tn.org, the pro-life camp sees Amendment 1 as a necessary change to “promote the protection of innocent human life”, “provide safeguards to women considering abortion”, “stop Tennessee from being a destination for out-of-state abortions”, and “require inspection, licensure, and regulation of abortion facilities in our state.”
On the other side of the debate at, www.VoteNo1Tn.org, pro-choice advocates are concerned that Amendment 1 will “insert the government into our most private moments, and could even ban abortion without exceptions for rape, incest, or health of the woman. You don’t have to be pro-choice to agree that Amendment 1 goes too far.”
No matter which side you’re on, these are very serious issues that deserve our attention… and our vote!
