SJR127, the proposed constitutional amendment that will eventually ban abortion in Tennessee, passed the Senate 24 to 8.

The vote:

SJR0127 by Black - FLOOR VOTE: MOTION TO ADOPT 3/23/2009

Senators voting aye were: Beavers, Black, Bunch, Burchett, Burks, Crowe, Faulk, Finney L, Gresham, Henry, Jackson, Johnson, Ketron, McNally, Norris, Overbey, Southerland, Stanley, Stewart, Tracy, Watson, Woodson, Yager, Mr. Speaker Ramsey -- 24.

Senators voting no were: Barnes, Berke, Ford, Harper, Haynes, Herron, Marrero, Tate -- 8.

No Republicans voted against the bill. Democrats voting for it were Charlotte Burks (Monterey), Lowe Finney (Jackson), Douglas Henry (Nashville), Doug Jackson (Dickson), and Eric Stewart (Belvidere).

It will now go to the House for a vote. If passed there, it must be passed again in the next General Assembly (2011-2012) by a two-thirds vote in each house, and then it goes on the ballot in the next governor's election (2014) for the people to decide. The Governor does not have to sign the resolution.

So this is largely a symbolic vote for now, but also a preview of the GOP agenda going forward if they lock in control of the legislature in the 2010 elections.