New legislation that would have almost totally banned or severely restricted access to abortion failed to pass the legislatures of Nebraska and South Carolina, handing a major legislative victory for abortion rights activists in the two red states.
South Carolina Sens. Sandy Senn, R-Charleston, left, Katrina Shealy, R-Lexington, center, and Penry ... [+]
With a 22-21 vote in South Carolina’s Senate, a bill that would have imposed a near-total ban on abortions in the state was filibustered by the five female members of the chamber—three of whom are Republican.
The women in the state Senate vociferously criticized their male colleagues for repeatedly pushing abortion restrictions, with State Sen. Sandy Senn (R) calling out the “men in the chamber” for metaphorically “slapping women by raising abortion again and again.”
If the bill had passed, it would have banned all abortions in the state, with minor exceptions for victims of rape or incest during the first 12 weeks or in case of a medical emergency.
In Nebraska, a six-week ban fell one vote shy of a filibuster-proof majority of 33, as Republican state Sen. Merv Riepe abstained from voting over concerns that six weeks might be too early for women to realize they are pregnant, and therefore the bill may be viewed as a total ban on abortions.
Riepe’s decision to abstain came after his proposed amendment to extend the timeline for an abortion ban to 12 weeks was rejected.
Commenting on the South Carolina bill, Vicki Ringer, the public affairs director for Planned Parenthood South Atlantic, said: “The government should never force a person to carry a pregnancy or give birth against their will, but this male-dominated legislature is hellbent on controlling the decisions of women…We urge House lawmakers to focus on policies that will actually help South Carolinians…rather than try yet again to ban abortion in the state.”