Sheila Butt is a Republican member of the Tennessee House of Representatives from Maury County who is often outspoken in her anti-abortion views. Butt told TNReport on Dec. 10 that she's undecided, however, as to whether she will support a proposal by fellow GOP Rep. Rick Womick to mandate that women seeking abortions be required to view the fetus on an ultrasound display. Likewise, Bobbie Patray of the socially conservative Tennessee Eagle Forum says her group is keeping their distance from Womick's bill for now. On Dec. 11, Republican Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey, the speaker of the Tennessee Senate, said he does not support the ultrasound bill. In November 2014 voters in Tennessee passed Amendment 1, a measure declaring that women in the state have no "right" to an abortion and expanding the power of government to regulate when, where and how abortions can be performed. The vote tally on Amendment 1 was 53 percent in favor and 46 percent opposed. Opponents of Amendment 1 are challenging the measure in federal court.
