State Sen. Jim Tracy defended himself Wednesday against House Democrats who say his legislation requiring women to undergo ultrasounds before abortion is a politically motivated move that would invade doctor-patient relationships, reports the Daily News Journal.
“The protection of human life and the unborn is very important to me,” said Tracy, a Shelbyville Republican who represents a portion of Rutherford County. He added he believes in the measure “from the bottom of my heart.”
Tracy, who announced he is running against U.S. Rep. Scott DesJarlais, a Jasper physician, in the 2014 Republican primary for the 4th District that includes Rutherford County, contends the bill is consistent with his views and is simply an effort to inform pregnant women before they make a “life-altering decision.”
When he announced his candidacy last month at Reeves-Sain Drug Store in Murfreesboro, Tracy made note of his 100 percent pro-life voting record and accused DesJarlais of deceiving voters in last year’s election.
Records made public after the vote showed that DesJarlais agreed for his former wife to have two abortions.
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UPDATE Note: See also Andy Sher’s report on the same subject.