Planned Parenthood will receive a $500,000 grant from the Metropolitan Government in an effort by council members to signal opposition to the U.S. Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade in
A proposal to provide a half-million dollar taxpayer-funded grant to provide financial support to women traveling outside of Tennessee for an abortion is drawing criticism from Lt. Gov. Randy McNally,
Vanderbilt University Professor Jim Blumstein, recently hired as the commission s legal counsel, advised against approving the Metro-backed proposal Thursday. He said he believes the proposal packs multiple amendments into one package, which would be problematic and confusing for voters. When you lump together all these proposals, he said, that blurs this notion of political accountability, because voters are not able to vote for each individual proposal.
Faced with the legal battle, however, Republican commissioners appear unflinching.
Commission Chairman Jim DeLanis, a Republican recently reappointed to his seat, voted with the Republican majority against the proposal. Arguing the language is confusing, he suggested pushing the issue to court.
Vanderbilt University Professor Jim Blumstein, recently hired as the commission s legal counsel, advised against approving the Metro-backed proposal Thursday. He said he believes the proposal packs multiple amendments into one package, which would be problematic and confusing for voters. When you lump together all these proposals, he said, that blurs this notion of political accountability, because voters are not able to vote for each individual proposal.
Faced with the legal battle, however, Republican commissioners appear unflinching.
Commission Chairman Jim DeLanis, a Republican recently reappointed to his seat, voted with the Republican majority against the proposal. Arguing the language is confusing, he suggested pushing the issue to court.