Speed is one of the most interesting characteristics of politics. Political fortunes can change at the drop of a hat, moving either negatively or positively, based on the perspective of the observer.
Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Howard Rosenberg lamented the speed of the news cycle and the effect it has in quickly shaping or changing our political views in his book, “No Time to Think: The Menace of Media Speed and the 24 Hour News Cycle.” Rosenberg called the process of a multitude of news stories flying at us at warp speed “feeding the beast.” Are you ready for some shocking news about Rosenberg’s book? It was published in 2008! How much faster is the news and politics moving today, almost 14 years later?
Before we know it, the South Carolina 2022 Legislative Session will be upon us. As we head into fall, members of the Republican Caucus have been meeting to set their agenda for the second half of the two-year 2021-2022 legislative cycle. The House Family Caucus, working with conservative Republicans in the Senate, have agreed to work together to push the legislative initiatives listed below:
Pass the Abortion Reversal Legislative Act — The bill would require full disclosure of the existence of the abortion reversal pill and the true effect of refusing to take the second pill commonly used in chemical abortions. Currently, the abortion industry in South Carolina does not inform women of the existence of the pill, nor do they tell them it is safe to change their minds after administering the first pill. Chemical abortions require two pills to be administered between 48 and 72 hours apart. With the number of chemical abortions on the rise, now accounting for close to half of abortions performed in South Carolina, this is an important bill to help stem the rise of chemical abortions by helping to ensure women are fully informed of their options to change their minds.
Medical Ethics and Diversity Act — The bill seeks to protect freedom of conscience of medical workers and students, allowing them to opt out from procedures they find objectionable under religious grounds without discrimination. This bill was recently expanded to address the actions of the Columbia City Council in banning conversion therapy for people who want to exit the same-sex lifestyle.
Save Women’s Sports Act — The bill failed twice in the House Judiciary Committee due to the resistance of six Republicans. It now resides in the Senate Medical Affairs Subcommittee and will be amended to include colleges and universities. A new strategy is being developed to push for passage of this bill before the end of the 2022 session.
Religion Is Essential Act — The bill passed the House but is currently stalled in the Senate. There is some reluctance to pass the bill in light of the changing state of COVID-19 restrictions. It is very important for this bill to be passed by the Senate and signed into law by the Governor. While religious institutions have benefited from the support of Gov. Henry McMaster and Attorney General Alan Wilson during the COVID pandemic, without the Religion Is Essential Act, we have no guarantee a future administration will be so inclined to protect religious liberty.
Banning CRT — There are several bills that are in the works that would ban the teaching of Critical Race Theory in any of its current manifestations. A final bill is expected to be filed ahead of the beginning of the 2022 session in January.
In addition to pushing ahead with the above initiatives, conservative leaders will be pushing back against a medical marijuana bill that, if passed by the Senate, will serve as a gateway to recreational marijuana, and we will be working to amend the Hate Crimes Bill (H3620) to remove language that would elevate LGBTQ, creating a new legal category in South Carolina law.