NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WMOT) -- A bill that would place restrictions on abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy is headed to Gov. Bill Haslam for his consideration.
The bill passed the Tennessee House this morning by a vote of 68 to 18. The bill requires that after the 20th week of gestation a physician must conduct examinations to determine if the fetus is viable.
If the fetus is viable, then an abortion can’t be performed. Any practitioner performing an abortion in that case would be subject to criminal prosecution.
The House Republican majority cut off discussion and defeated two amendments to the measure offered by Democrats. One of those would have made an exception in cases of rape or incest.
Debate on the bill itself grew heated. Nashville Democrat Sherry Jones grew visibly angry.
“What you need to do is punish men, who can’t keep their zippers up and can’t keep their pants on. And you guys go ahead and laugh about it, but nothing every happens to you when there’s a pregnancy. Nothing.”
Republican bill sponsor Matthew Hill of Jonesborough was quick to respond.
“What we are doing is imposing criminal penalties on physicians that perform post viability, elective abortions. That’s what we’re doing.”
The bill passed the Senate earlier this week.
The measure as passed does make some exceptions for the life and health of the mother.