S.C. Senate Panel Approves Clause To Ban Coverage for Abortion Care in Cases of Rape, Incest
April 26, 2012 — A South Carolina Senate panel on Tuesday approved a budget clause that would ban the state's health plan from covering abortion unless a woman's life was in danger, the AP/Myrtle Beach Sun News reports. Currently, exceptions are allowed for abortion in the case of incest or rape. According to the AP/Sun News, the state House in 2010 approved a similar clause, but it was later removed by the Senate.
The proposal now will advance to the full Senate Finance Committee, which is working on a 2012-2013 state spending proposal this week. The Senate is expected to debate the budget in mid-May.
Proponents of the clause said they want to protect fetal rights, while opponents say it "re-traumatizes" crime victims, according to the AP/Sun News.
State Rep. Todd Rutherford (D) noted that the Senate will debate the issue without a single woman, because all of the senators are male. "The Republicans continue their assault on women and their reproductive rights," Rutherford said, adding, "When will it stop?" (Adcox, AP/Myrtle Beach Sun News, 4/24).
The information contained in this publication reflects media coverage of women’s health issues and does not necessarily reflect the views of the National Partnership for Women & Families.
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The Editors
Debra Ness, publisher & president, National Partnership
Andrea Friedman, associate editor & director of reproductive health programs, National Partnership
Marya Torrez, associate editor & senior reproductive health policy counsel, National Partnership
Melissa Safford, associate editor & policy advocate for reproductive health, National Partnership
Perry Sacks, assistant editor & health program associate, National Partnership
Cindy Romero, assistant editor & communications assistant, National Partnership
Justyn Ware, editor
Amanda Wolfe, editor-in-chief
Heather Drost, Hanna Jaquith, Marcelle Maginnis, Ashley Marchand and Michelle Stuckey, staff writers
Tucker Ball, director of new media, National Partnership
