Here’s the written transcript of Senator Woodson accusing pro-lifers of Machiavellian politics:

SB 1573

Senator Woodson in Closing on Her Judicial Bill

Thank you Mr. Speaker and Members.  We’ve had a tremendous amount of dialogue and I value each of my colleague’s opinions even though with some I strongly disagree. 

I would like to address one point that’s been made on several occasions related to some of these key votes.  And while some us have not lived long on this earth,  some of us have been here through those great battles.   I served in this body and in the House of Representatives now collectively for 11 years, and the scars remain from the battles on the income tax.  We have fresh wounds from a victory on SJR 127. These key, important votes.  And one of the things that I’ve learned or more, realized, over the last week or two, is that while we might politely disagree, I do have those who I have the opportunity to serve with and I have been on the battlefield with, who are in this chamber who are utilizing the Constitution as a cloak for a political agenda.  And members, it is a political agenda that I believe in.  I believe in life. I fought for life.  And I will continue to do so as long as I have the privilege of being elected to serve in this body.  I will not cease. 

But I will tell you the tactic is better suited for Machiavelli, that the ends would justify the means.  Than it would be for reasonable people in the Tennessee state Senate and Tennessee state House. And so I would merely ask this body for us to continue to discuss and debate these important issues of the Constitution.

But when we’re gone from here, our time here will tell a story.  In these votes.  In how we treat one another. And what at the end of the day is with our core and those most important in this conversation, those citizens we have the privilege and opportunity to serve…… and so with that I would like to commend Leader Norris, and for the collective leadership on both sides of a very complex and challenging issue who would take the opportunity to support this bill today, I would ask for your support and I thank you Mr. Speaker.