Members of the South Carolina Senate will move forward Tuesday on a bill outlawing abortion with some exceptions. The Senate’s Medical Affairs Committee will discuss House Bill 5399 Tuesday at 10 a.m. It could move to the full Senate as soon as Wednesday. The bill passed the House last week and would outlaw abortions with exceptions for rape and incest up to 12 weeks or if the mother’s life is in danger.Members of the South Carolina House voted to add exceptions to the bill after the original bill had an exception only if the mother’s life was in danger during pregnancy.The original bill did not have support from some Republicans. One of those Republicans was Rep. Neal Collins of Pickens County, who had national attention when he made comments in the House Judiciary Committee last month, saying he could not support the bill without exceptions. “I want it to be clear that myself and many others are not in a position to vote for this bill without significant changes to the bill,” he said at the time, during an emotional speech. Collins said some national outlets took the clip out of context. “The reason that I spoke at all was because the Democrats on the committee were getting cut off and I am a big proponent of fairness and us doing our due diligence,” he said. Last week, Collins voted in favor of the bill with exceptions and said he’d like to see less outrage on social media and more room for discussion. “We’ve got to tone down our rhetoric,” he said. “This is a tough issue. No matter what issues from here on out, my hope is that two people can have differing viewpoints, sit down together, break bread and come to some common ground.”If the bill passes the House and the Senate, it would go to the desk of Gov. Henry McMaster where he could sign it into law.
Members of the South Carolina Senate will move forward Tuesday on a bill outlawing abortion with some exceptions.
The Senate’s Medical Affairs Committee will discuss House Bill 5399 Tuesday at 10 a.m. It could move to the full Senate as soon as Wednesday.
The bill passed the House last week and would outlaw abortions with exceptions for rape and incest up to 12 weeks or if the mother’s life is in danger.
Members of the South Carolina House voted to add exceptions to the bill after the original bill had an exception only if the mother’s life was in danger during pregnancy.
The original bill did not have support from some Republicans.
One of those Republicans was Rep. Neal Collins of Pickens County, who had national attention when he made comments in the House Judiciary Committee last month, saying he could not support the bill without exceptions.
“I want it to be clear that myself and many others are not in a position to vote for this bill without significant changes to the bill,” he said at the time, during an emotional speech.
Collins said some national outlets took the clip out of context.
“The reason that I spoke at all was because the Democrats on the committee were getting cut off and I am a big proponent of fairness and us doing our due diligence,” he said.
Last week, Collins voted in favor of the bill with exceptions and said he’d like to see less outrage on social media and more room for discussion.
“We’ve got to tone down our rhetoric,” he said. “This is a tough issue. No matter what issues from here on out, my hope is that two people can have differing viewpoints, sit down together, break bread and come to some common ground.”
If the bill passes the House and the Senate, it would go to the desk of Gov. Henry McMaster where he could sign it into law.
Read More: Bill banning abortion with some exceptions set for Senate Committee Tuesday morning