South Carolina to consider abortion ban; bill faces uncertain future
COLUMBIA, S.C. — A small group of South Carolina senators held a daylong hearing Tuesday on whether South Carolina should join about a half-dozen other states in banning nearly all abortions , but the Southern state might not be ready to follow some of its conservative compatriots.
About 25 people spoke during the carefully scripted hearing Tuesday before breaking for lunch. More speakers were planned for the afternoon, with the Senate subcommittee trying to evenly divide the speakers by those for and against the bill, which would ban almost all abortions after a fetal heartbeat is detected, around six weeks into pregnancy.
Most of the speakers for the bill were pastors, Republican lawmakers or others morally opposed to abortion. Many of the speakers against the bill were doctors or women who shared personal stories of abortions or medical crises that might have fallen into gray areas under the proposal.
The bill easily passed the House in April and Gov. Henry McMaster enthusiastically supports it. But some backers aren't sure it can get the two-thirds support likely needed to overcome procedural hurdles in the Senate when the Legislature returns Jan. 14.
Read more: https://www.inquirer.com/politics/south-carolina-abortion-ban-bill-20190910.html
(Philadelphia Inquirer)