SOUTH CAROLINA, Mar 19, 2001 (LSN.ca) – South Carolina is doing little to endear itself to the abortion movement, judging by the number of pro-life initiatives currently being advanced and considered in that state. The state Senate is considering an Unborn Victims Act (SB 312), which criminalizes the “unlawful killing or battery of any person” with person being defined to include “an unborn child at every stage of gestation in utero from conception until live birth.” It was supposed to be sent to the Judiciary Committee last week but has first gone to a subcommittee for the consideration of amendments, according to the Columbia state newspaper.
Also last week, South Carolina’s House approved a measure to eliminate state funding for contraceptives and abortion for unmarried individuals. Another state amendment would apparently end state payments for drug-induced abortions. Critics, however, haver raised the spectre of such a measure leading to a loss of all Medicaid funding from the federal government. Medicaid will currently pay for abortions in cases which the pregnancy threa tens the mother’s life or when it is the result of rape or incest. South Carolina’s Heath and Human Services Director Bill Prince told state Rep. Rick Quinn (R) that his agency “cannot deny payment for an abortion that meets federal guidelines,” and the House leaders have indicated that they will back away from this measure if such information is accurate.
Meanwhile, South Carolina is also now considering pro-life license plates, despite the controversy and court cases resulting from such proposals in other states. The state’s Lt. Gov. Bob Peeler (R) is urging state lawmakers to allow the introduction of “Choose Life” license plates and Sen. Mike Fair (R) is sponsoring a bill that would allow residents to purchase them for $70, with the proceeds going toward private, non-profit crisis pregnancy programs that “work to curb abortions with shelter, food, clothing, education, medical care and adoption services.”
Bill SB 312 https://www.leginfo.state.sc.us/cgi-bin/query99.exe?first=DOC&querytext=unborn&session=114&conid=73444&result_pos=0&keyval=1140312