CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – A resolution adopting the City of Clarksville’s legislative agenda received several amendments last week. One of them dealing with abortion laws caused a stir among council members.

While the council does not have the authority to enact or repeal state laws, they do have an opportunity to send a list of items to state lawmakers for consideration. The list is categorized by priority items and items of interest. The abortion matter is now listed under items of interest, after a 7-4 vote.

Repeal of Tennessee’s abortion law

Councilperson Karen Reynolds, who presented the amendment at Thursday’s meeting, urged members to support repealing Tennessee’s abortion law, citing a lack of exceptions for sexual assault, incest and women’s healthcare.

“My amendment is to add (the) repeal of SB 1257, cited as a Human Life Protection Act, and HB 2263 known as a Heart Beat Bill. The City of Clarksville supports the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, known ACOG Abortion Policy,” Reynolds said.

“A ‘yes’ vote indicates that you trust the women and our medical professionals to make the best choices for their healthcare. A ‘no’ vote, if you abstain, or you do not vote, indicates that you support laws that will increase infant mortality in our state and that you do not trust our residents to make their own choices regarding healthcare,” Reynolds said.

Councilperson says stay out of it

Councilperson Wallace Redd responded by saying the legislative agenda is a place for items directly associated with Clarksville, such as infrastructure, roads and grants.

“We don’t pass laws concerning abortion,” Redd said. “Just for me, I don’t think that this is the place to put it (social issues), to make your statement one way or the other.”

Redd then moved to postpone the amendment indefinitely, and that move failed 9-1 with one abstention.

Councilperson Brian Zacharias asked for confirmation that the amendment would go on the interest items list.

“Honestly, it’s a priority,” Reynolds said in response, “but because we put medical marijuana, which is also a social issue, as a matter of interest, I was working to keep the common theme of how we did things.”

 Zacharias said it should be a priority.

“I think this is worthy of a place on our list of priority items and I would support it if it were,” he said.

Further support

The amendment also saw support from Councilpersons Wanda Allen, Trisha Butler and Dajuan Little, who shared concerns about prosecuting medical professionals when a mother’s life could be in question.

The amendment supporting abortion rights passed 7-4.

Another amendment to the resolution supports widening Highway 374 by Dover Road.

The legislative agenda passed as amended 11-1.