Planned Parenthood doesn’t like that longtime State Rep. John DeBerry (D-TN-90) voted to support the heartbeat bill in the recent legislative session.
Tennessee Advocates for Planned Parenthood took advertising out for three billboards in Memphis to attack DeBerry on his vote, WBBJ said.
The Memphis Democrat ran unopposed in 2018. His seat is up for reelection in 2020.
According to WMC, Francie Hunt, Tennessee Advocates for Planned Parenthood executive director, said, “Today, we are kicking off a billboard campaign to help inform more people about his stance.”
Norma Lester, Democratic Women of Shelby County president, told WMC, “There should never be a situation where Representative DeBerry has been allowed to be comfortable with what he has done.”
DeBerry, the Democratic Leader Pro-Tempore, served as the Tennessee Black Caucus of State Legislators Chaplain in the 111th General Assembly, according to his legislative biography. He has served in the Legislature from the 99th through the 111th General Assemblies.
Although the heartbeat bill passed in the House, it stalled in the Senate and was sent to summer study.
The Senate version of the Heartbeat Bill, SB1236 sponsored by Senator Mark Pody (R-Lebanon) was sent to “summer study” by the Judiciary Committee on April 9, The Tennessee Star reported on April 23.
The Star reported on May 31 that the schedule for the Senate Judiciary Committee summer study of the Heartbeat Bill was announced via email to committee members and staff.
The scheduled dates of August 12 and 13 are changed from the original dates set during the Senate Judiciary Committee meeting on April 9 when the bill was sent to summer study.
Originally, the dates set by Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Mike Bell (R-Riceville) for the summer study were Tuesday and Wednesday, August 13 and 14.
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Jason M. Reynolds has more than 20 years’ experience as a journalist at outlets of all sizes.
