South Carolina House Passes Six-Week Abortion Ban
Why It Matters
If the invoice is handed by the Senate, it might then head to the governor’s desk. His approval, if granted, would dramatically scale back abortion entry for ladies within the state and throughout the area.
Most Southern states have handed abortion bans for the reason that Supreme Court’s choice to overturn Roe v. Wade final June. But as a result of the South Carolina legislature has not been capable of agree on the phrases of a ban, the state nonetheless permits abortion up till 22 weeks of being pregnant.
Abortion suppliers say this makes the state a vital entry level for ladies in different Southern states, particularly since North Carolina this week handed a legislation banning most abortions after 12 weeks.
Abortion opponents, in addition to some lawmakers who help a proper to abortion, fear that the state has grow to be a vacation spot for the process.
Background
The invoice will check a South Carolina Supreme Court ruling in January, which discovered a proper to abortion within the state Constitution and struck down a earlier six-week ban.
That opinion was written by the courtroom’s solely feminine justice, who retired shortly after. The legislature changed her with a person, who was supported by the conservative Freedom Caucus within the House.
Republicans are hoping that the brand new courtroom will overturn the abortion choice, permitting a stricter ban. But the House and the Senate, regardless of each being managed by Republicans, haven’t been capable of agree on the place to attract the road.
The House is extra conservative and tried to move a ban on most abortions beginning at conception. The Senate thought-about and rejected that invoice 3 times this 12 months, blocked by the 5 ladies of the chamber — three Republicans, a Democrat and an impartial — who name themselves the “Sister Senators.”
The ladies have steered a ban after the primary trimester, or placing the query of abortion rights to voters on a poll initiative, however Senate management has rejected these measures.
What’s Next
Gov. Henry McMaster, a Republican who helps a six-week ban, referred to as the Senate into its personal particular session subsequent week to debate the House model of the invoice.
The “Sister Senators” have mentioned that they are going to filibuster once more, which may block a ultimate vote on the invoice.
While two of the Republicans in that group voted in favor of the six-week ban that the Senate handed in February, they’ve mentioned that they can’t help the amendments that the House added within the invoice.