Image Credit: Gov. Lee / Facebook & Tennessee Stands / X
The Tennessee Conservative [By Adelia Kirchner] –
11 Tennessee Republicans have signed a letter requesting that Gov. Bill Lee (R-TN) veto the “Fertility and Contraceptive Protection Act” which officially passed through the state legislature early last week.
House Bill 533 (HB0533)/Senate Bill 449 (SB0449), sponsored by Rep. Iris Rudder (R-Winchester-District 39) and Sen. Becky Massey (R-Knoxville-District 6) was proposed as a seemingly harmless piece of legislation securing the “right” to seek any and all assisted fertility treatments in the state.
However, critics have warned that the bill actually paves the way for a severe undermining of pro-life law in Tennessee.
“This bill will codify an unlimited right to in-vitro fertilization, without restriction, in Tennessee law. There is nothing in the law that prohibits IVF, so the law is unnecessary,” Tennessee Right to Life wrote in a recent press release which also called for the Governor to veto HB0533/SB0449. “This bill would allow, as a right under the law, the destruction of ‘unwanted’ human embryos as well as screening/testing that would identify certain traits and characteristics that could target these tiny humans for destruction. Without regulations around this industry, creating an unlimited right to IVF is dangerous and reckless.”
CatholicVote also put out an alert stating that “IVF may seem pro-life on the surface, but the reality is grim: For every human embryo born through IVF, multiple of his or her siblings were destroyed. There are currently no restrictions on how many embryos can be created through IVF. The number of embryos killed every year via IVF is actually higher than the annual number of abortions.”
In an interview with The Tennessee Conservative’s Olivia Lupia, Rep. Gino Bulso (R-Brentwood-District 61) was asked what he believed the bill sponsors were trying to accomplish with this legislation since there are already no prohibitions or restrictions on fertility treatments or reproductive technologies in Tennessee.
“It certainly seems that what they’re trying to accomplish is to codify unlimited and unrestricted right to engage in what is defined as fertility treatment, which is defined very broadly and includes any treatment that relates to fertility,” Rep. Bulso answered. “There is nothing in our code that restricts or regulates any type of fertility treatment, and they are likely just trying to get something on the books that protects against any future legislation to restrict it or regulate it.”
An amendment proposed by Rep. Bulso would have specified some of the broad language of the bill but it was tabled on the House floor by a 65-31 vote.
The legislation passed in the House by a 54-37 vote on April 10th and the Senate voted to concur on the legislation as amended by a 27-3 vote on April 14th.
In an April 16th letter, 11 members of the General Assembly requested that the Governor veto HB0533/SB449.
According to legislative staff, the letter below was signed by Republicans Chris Todd, Jody Barrett, Monty Fritts, Michelle Reneau, Todd Warner, Kip Capley, Scott Cepicky, Timothy Hill, Brock Martin, Ed Butler, and Aron Maberry.
Dear Governor Lee:
As you are aware, the “Fertility Treatment and Contraceptive Protection Act” (HB533 by Rudder) passed in the House yesterday. It passed in the Senate on April 10, and will soon be heading to your desk. We, the undersigned members of the Tennessee House of Representatives, being fully aware of the significance of our request, hereby implore you to veto this bill.
The bill was presented as a means to ensure continued access to methods of contraception, including emergency contraception, which is the so-called Morning After or Plan B pill (the pill), and as a means of protecting infertile couples’ access to In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) procedures. However, the bill sponsor readily admitted that there is no current necessity for the “right” purportedly secured by this bill, as there is no law or rule in effect in Tennessee limiting or denying access to the products or services described therein. As I noted on the House Floor: ‘This bill is a solution looking for a problem.
At face value and with due deference to the sponsor’s honorable intent, signing this bill into law would appear to be an act of compassion, particularly for those couples who are facing childlessness. We would further agree that there is no question that the children who were born as a result of IVF are blessings from God. However, the support of this bill by the ACLU, Planned Parenthood, and all 24 House Democrats should give you pause to consider whether it, well-intended or not, is a Trojan horse that could potentially undermine Tennessee’s strong and righteous stance on the protection of innocent human life.
The inclusion of the term “emergency contraceptives” in the bill could potentially open Pandora’s box as pro-choice activists seek to stretch the inch provided by this bill into the proverbial mile. Questions about the science, ethical use, and/or efficacy of so-called “morning after” drugs have long been debated. Some would have us believe that these drugs are not abortifacient, as they prevent the egg from being released from the ovary. However, we know that if the pill is not taken immediately following intercourse, ovulation may not be prevented, and conception may occur. In those cases, depending upon how long after intercourse the pill is taken, the introduction of Levonorgestrel or Ulipristal Acetate, types of progesterone in these pills, could prevent the implantation of a fertilized egg.
Therein lies the crux of the debate as it relates to these “emergency contraceptives.” That is, when does conception (human life) begin? Is it when the egg is fertilized or when that fertilized egg attaches to the uterine wall? How you answer this question will determine whether or not you believe that these over-the-counter products can be abortifacient, depending on the differing effects of the various products and the timing of when they are used.
Two issues with IVF were not discussed in the floor debate. The first is, what is done with the fertilized eggs that the couple does not use? That answer, simply, is they are destroyed. Once again, we must ask ourselves to define the term “conception” to determine when it occurs. We would submit that conception begins at the moment of fertilization, and thus, destroying these babies that are no longer needed or wanted is a type of abortion. It is an act of intentionally terminating human life that should not be provided legal cover.
The second question is related to the fetal reduction procedure that must sometimes be done. According to the Mayo Clinic, there are cases when IVF can result in too many pregnancies at once. This poses a health risk to the mothers and their babies. In these cases, a surgery is performed to remove some of the babies so that the risks to the mother and the remaining babies is lowered. In our view, this is selective abortion.
We believe that God granted Tennessee a reprieve through the Dobbs decision. When the Supreme Court returned authority in these matters to the states, the Justices, in essence, asked, “Choose this day whom you will serve…” As a state, we answered, “…we will serve the Lord.” If HB533 becomes law, we will no longer be able to stand in the same posture before our Righteous Lord.
We are convinced that a number of our colleagues would have voted differently had all aspects of these complex and confusing issues been thoroughly and openly discussed. The fact that legislators did not individually investigate the implications of this bill more fully is something that we all have to own. However, our Founders set up our system of government not only to protect against an abuse of power but to protect against human error. We, therefore, urge you to exercise your Constitutional authority to veto this legislation.
If we, as a government, authorize the slaughter of even one innocent life, God will judge us collectively. The power to save lies in your hands. May the living water now flow from your pen. Sincerely and in reverence to Almighty God.
Following the issuance of this letter, Tennessee Stands put out a call-to-action saying, “There is a reason why this bill receives support from the ACLU, Planned Parenthood, and all 24 House Democrats. We stand with Representative Chris Todd and the co-signers in their request of the Governor to exercise his Constitutional authority to veto.”
If Gov. Lee were to veto this bill, it would be the first time he has ever exercised his veto power since assuming office in 2019.
Historically, if he has not agreed with a piece of legislation passed by the General Assembly, Gov. Lee has simply allowed it to become law without his signature.
About the Author: Adelia Kirchner is a Tennessee resident and reporter for the Tennessee Conservative. Currently the host of Subtle Rampage Podcast, she has also worked for the South Dakota State Legislature and interned for Senator Bill Hagerty’s Office in Nashville, Tennessee. Adelia is The Tennessee Conservative’s on-site reporter for the Tennessee General Assembly. You can reach Adelia at adelia@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
One Response
Chances of RINO Lee doing anything right are from slim to none.