The battleground over abortion is shifting to Tennessee, where campaigns are heating up on a referendum that is a year away.
The referendum, pushed by anti-abortion groups for years, would add an amendment to the state constitution stating, "Nothing in this Constitution secures or protects a right to abortion or requires the funding of an abortion." The amendment would apply to all abortions, including those stemming from "circumstances of pregnancy resulting from rape or incest or when necessary to save the life of the mother."
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Tennessee Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey supports a state amendment pushed by anti-abortion groups.Associated Press
Anti-abortion groups launched their campaign to generate support for the referendum this month with a $250,000 fundraiser headlined by Tennessee Republican Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey and a church concert by the Duggars, an Arkansas couple who have a reality television program about raising their 19 children. The state's Baptist Convention also passed a resolution urging members to "work vigorously" to pass the amendment, which will be on the Nov. 4, 2014, ballot.
The amendment—which is supported by many Republicans and Democrats in the GOP-dominated legislature—is an attempt to make Tennessee's constitution neutral on abortion, supporters say. It would give the legislature the authority to pass "common sense" limitations on abortion and "protect women's rights," said state Sen. Jim Tracy, a Republican who co-sponsored the amendment.
Mr. Ramsey called the campaign launch a "pre-emptive strike" against opponents of the amendment, led by Planned Parenthood Federation of America Inc. and the American Civil Liberties Union. These groups say the amendment will open the door to passage of laws severely limiting access to abortions.
"Their ultimate goal in Tennessee is to be able to pass any restriction or regulation on abortion that they want to," said Jeff Teague, president of Planned Parenthood of Middle and East Tennessee Inc.