South Carolina House passes bill banning abortions

A bill banning nearly all abortions was passed by the South Carolina House on Wednesday. The measures would go into effect if the US Supreme Court overturn the Roe v. Wade, the 1973 court decision supporting abortion rights.

The proposal, which was passed by the Senate on January 28, will face a final procedural vote in the House on Thursday, however, that’s unlikely to change the outcome and will then be sent to the governor for his signature.

Republican Governor Henry McMaster has vowed to sign the measure as soon as possible.

Amidst an uproar, the House voted 79-35 in favour of the bill after nearly all members of the Democratic caucus walked out in protest at one point.

Few Democrats stayed behind to witness the Republicans wiping out more than 100 proposed amendments.

After holding a news conference to speak against the bill, several other Democrats returned to express their opposition to the measure, AP reported.

Nearly all House members were later present for the vote.

“You love the fetus in the womb. But when it is born, it’s a different reaction,” said Rep. Gilda Cobb-Hunter of Orangeburg, the House’s longest-serving member at 29 years, AP reported.

The Republican defended the bill. Rep. Melissa Lackey Oremus said plenty of women have mixed feelings when they get pregnant, especially when they aren’t where they want to be in their life. But the Republican from Aiken argued that’s no reason for abortion.

“They don’t deserve to die just because their mother made a bad choice one night,” Oremus said.

Under the bill, abortion can only be performed if the pregnancy was caused by rape or incest or the mother’s life is in danger.

While the bill would not punish a pregnant woman for getting an illegal abortion, the person who performed the abortion could be charged with a felony, sentenced up to two years and fined $10,000 if found guilty.