Republican Supermajority in Ga. Could Open Door to 'Personhood' Amendment

October 16, 2012 — Georgia Republicans are closing in on a supermajority in the state Legislature, which would allow them to pass amendments to the state constitution without Democratic support, the AP/Marietta Daily Journal reports. Any constitutional amendments passed by the Legislature require voter approval to become law.

According to the AP/Daily Journal, if all GOP incumbents win their elections next month and all unopposed candidates take office, Republicans would need to pick up eight additional seats in the House and three seats in the Senate to secure a two-thirds majority in both chambers. Because of recent redistricting in the state, GOP candidates face a more favorable electorate than Democrats, the AP/Daily Journal reports.

'Personhood' Amendment Possible

Georgia Right to Life president Dan Becker said the group would push for a so-called "personhood" amendment if Republicans win a supermajority. The amendment would ban abortion except when a woman's life is in danger. The amendment was introduced before but never advanced in the Legislature.

Georgia House Speaker David Ralston (R) was noncommittal on whether he would support such an amendment, though he noted that state lawmakers enacted new restrictions on abortion last year. Ralston also pointed out that an attempted personhood amendment failed in Mississippi, another conservative state (Henry, AP/Marietta Daily Journal, 10/14).