Yesterday, the South Carolina Senate was bullied into debating a fetal personhood bill which has failed to garner enough support to pass out of the House Judiciary Subcommittee.
Orchestrated by Senator Lee Bright of Spartanburg, this bill was brought up, against Senate procedure, during the debate of the cigarette tax.
The bill in question would grant constitutional rights from the “moment of fertilization.” This means that it would guarantee the right to due process and equal protection to fertilized eggs. This statement has far-reaching consequences including:
- Outlawing birth control options, like the Pill and IUDs, and emergency contraception for victims of rape and incest, in the state of South Carolina
- Banning stem cell research currently being used to find cures for chronic disease and disabilities
- Outlawing In-Vitro fertilization since fertilized eggs would have full legal rights to decide their future
- Eliminating a women’s right to decide about issues regarding her body- such as when to have a C-Section. If passed, this bill could place that decision in the hands of our legislators, giving them the right to force women to have C-Sections even when their lives are at risk. A woman with cancer could also be denied life-saving medical treatment because it could endanger a fertilized egg.
- It ignores the reality of miscarriages and non-implantation – even when a woman is not using a contraception method that can inhibit implantation. (The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists estimates that between one-third and one-half of all fertilized eggs never fully implant.)
Senator Lee Bright (R-Spartanburg) delayed the cigarette tax increase because his bill (S. 450) has still not been called up for debate. The State Newspaper chronicled the events of the debate in the following way:
Bright, who has emerged as the Senate’s most vocal opponent of abortion rights, tried to force a vote on bypassing the committee hearings.
An irritated Senate president pro-tempore Glenn McConnell, R-Charleston, blasted the move, however, which he said not only breaks Senate procedure, but also would wind up costing the state money.
“It is unconstitutional under the U.S. Constitution,” said McConnell, an attorney. “Let me tell you what he is trying to push on us: This bill would make a doctor guilty of manslaughter or murder if it goes forward.”
McConnell, who described himself as “pro-life,” scolded Bright for attempting to change U.S. law established by the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade case, by passing a conflicting state law.
McConnell also blasted Bright for attempting to force senators either to support that effort or look as if they favor abortions.
“This is one of those gotcha votes,” McConnell protested. “You’re for abortion or you’re against it.”
Bright said two other states had approved legislation similar to his personhood bill
But Lexington Sen. Jake Knotts, a fellow Republican, pointed out that legislation had not cleared both chambers in those two states.
Bright later agreed.
Thank you Senators McConnell and Knott, for standing up for women in this state. These two courageous Senators had the strength and support to get this proposal tabled until further notice. The Greenville News is reporting that “it [is] unlikely the measure will pass this year.”
Once again we can see that Senator Lee Bright is no friend to women in South Carolina, while Senators McConnell and Knotts are true supporters and advocates.
Tags: Action Alert, Columbia, Headlines, Healthcare, Reproductive Health, SC Senate, Senator Bright, Senator Knotts, Senator McConnell, Tell Them
