Integrity Score 910
No Records Found
No Records Found
No Records Found
South Carolina Senators Reject Near-Total Abortion Ban Bill
On Thursday, South Carolina Senators rejected a near-total abortion ban bill, marking the third time a bill like this has failed in the Republican-led chamber since the U.S. Supreme Court reversed Roe v. Wade last summer. The vote was 22-21, with six Republicans blocking motions to end the debate and defeat any chance of the bill passing this year.
If passed, the bill would have banned abortions at conception, with exceptions for rape or incest through the first trimester, fatal fetal anomalies confirmed by two physicians, and to save the patient's life or health. The proposal was criticized by many, including the five women in the chamber who filibustered the proposal in speeches highlighting the Senate's male majority that they criticized for pushing debates on abortion over other pressing issues.
During the debate, Republican Sen. Penry Gustafson spent over 30 minutes detailing the bodily changes throughout every stage of pregnancy, emphasizing her "pro-life" position but criticizing the proposal for leaving "no room for empathy, reality or graciousness." Independent Sen. Mia McLeod also criticized the leaders who prioritized the near-total ban over efforts to make South Carolina the 49th state in the country with a law allowing harsher punishments for violent hate crimes.
The vote maintains the legislative stalemate made plain during a special session last year when the House and Senate failed to agree on when South Carolina should ban abortion. The Senate has again passed a different ban taking effect when cardiac activity is detected, as early as six weeks and before many people realize they are pregnant.