GOP lawmakers ask Haslam for new abortion clinic rules

Five GOP lawmakers on Monday asked Gov. Bill Haslam to step in immediately to order a series of emergency rules to govern how the state's abortion clinics dispose of fetal remains.

In a three-page letter to the governor, the senators also asked the governor to authorize an investigation by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation into Planned Parenthood and the state's other abortion providers to "determine whether and to what extent these clinics are engaged in activities in Tennessee that violate state law."

The letter follows the release of a series of undercover videos shot by the Center for Medical Progress, allegedly showing Planned Parenthood executives discussing the sale of aborted tissue. Officials with Planned Parenthood's national organization have denied that such sales happen, noting that the network of clinics does accept payment for storage and transportation costs, but makes no profit from such transactions.

In Tennessee a 1989 law bans the sale of aborted tissues. Jeff Teague, president and chief executive officer of Planned Parenthood of Middle and East Tennessee, said that neither of Planned Parenthood's surgical abortion clinics in Tennessee — there is also a clinic in Memphis — participates in any tissue sale or donation program, but rather contracts with a company that disposes of the remains.

"It seems to be this is a solution in search of a problem," Teague said. "We have repeatedly said we do not nor have ever participated in any fetal tissue donation programs."

The clinics contract with an EPA licensed facility to properly dispose of any medical materials, Teague said.

And an investigation by TBI would "find there has been nothing done that is illegal. ... It's ultimately going to be a huge waste of taxpayer dollars," Teague said.

Republican lawmakers in Tennessee and elsewhere have kept the spotlight on the issues raised in videos by the Center for Medical Progress, which itself is subject of a Department of Justice investigation.

Last week, lawmakers held a "fact-finding hearing" to determine what Tennessee does to enforce its existing ban on the sale of such remains.

The hearing left many Republican lawmakers unsatisfied.

"During the hearings, it became obvious that the Tennessee Department of Health cannot provide Tennesseans any assurance whatsoever that illegal selling of aborted baby parts is not taking place," said Sen. Kerry Roberts, R-Dickson.

In their letter to Haslam, Republican state Senators Mae Beavers, Kerry Roberts, Janice Bowling, Delores Gresham and Paul Bailey requested Haslam immediately do the following:

Instruct Department of Health Commissioner John Dreyzehner to develop rules regarding the "chain of custody" of aborted fetuses, from the time of the abortion to the disposal of the remains.

Require women seeking abortions be informed about the various legal disposal methods available and give consent about which method will be used.

Require the aborted fetus be held in a manner and time period that renders any organs or tissues unavailable for research.

Requires the disposal methods clinics use to be reported to the Department of Health.

Requires clinics to report where the remains are transported, by whom and any compensation received by clinics.

Require the Department of Health to immediately set up a hotline for reporting abortion providers suspected of fraud or abuse.

Immediately authorize a TBI investigation into Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers.

The lawmakers said they would also be filing legislation granting the attorney general "investigative and prosecutorial authority over this matter."

"All this is is a continued attack on any attempt to provide quality and affordable health care to Tennesseans, particularly women," said John Ray Clemmons, a Nashville Democrat who has sparred with his Republican colleagues over efforts to enact abortion restrictions.

Reach Anita Wadhwani at 615-259-8092 or on Twitter @AnitaWadhwani.