‘I’m not going to let it happen’: South Carolina Senate fails to pass new near-total abortion ban

Efforts to enact a second piece of abortion-restricting legislation in South Carolina failed after state Republicans were unable to receive enough votes to pass a near-total reproductive care ban on Thursday. The bill, which did not include exceptions for rape or incest, looked to ban abortion beginning at fertilization. According to the Associated Press, five Republicans, including all the chamber’s women, refused to support the bill. While 30 Republicans in the 46-member chamber had a majority to pass the ban they did not have the extra votes to end a filibuster by Republican Sen. Tom Davis.

Instead of passing a near-total ban without exceptions for rape or incest, the Senate then passed an amended bill that mirrors existing restrictions. Similar to the current heartbeat bill, passed after the Doobs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision that hailed the end of Roe v. Wade, the Senate bill bans abortion after about six weeks. It also includes exceptions for victims of rape or incest for up to 12 weeks.