Tennessee political leaders weigh in on dispute over reproductive health care for military personnel

Political battle lines are hardening over how military personnel get access to abortions.

The dispute begins with one senator: Republican Tommy Tuberville, of Alabama. He is preventing the nominations and promotions of hundreds of military officials to try to force Democrats to vote down a policy that gives troops access to abortions.

At the state level, Tennessee Rep. John Ragan wrote a letter to senators Marsha Blackburn and Bill Hagerty to urge them to support Tuberville’s plan.

But Rep. Karen Camper, a Democrat, says the holdout is sending a bad message.

“It’s political posturing. It’s talking about stuff that’s not even an issue. And now you want to bring it from your political world view and inject it into the military. That’s a problem,” said Camper.

Camper is a retired Chief Warrant Officer in the U.S. Army. She believes politicizing the military is bad for its future and that it’s a distraction for those who should only have to focus on their missions. 

U.S. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) also opposes the blockade.