Two major pro-life bills passed by the South Carolina House of Representatives have drawn praise from the South Carolina Baptist Convention’s public policy office.
The bills have now advanced to the Senate and will be taken up at the committee level, according to Mark Hendrick, associate director of the SCBC’s office of public policy.
Hendrick said the bills protect infants who survive an abortion and are born alive, protect the conscience rights of healthcare professionals who do not want to take part in abortion procedures, and would allow South Carolina to opt out of abortion coverage in the exchanges mandated by the new health insurance law.
Rep. Greg Delleney, Chester, continues to be the chief sponsor and outspoken leader on pro-life issues at the State House, Hendrick said.
“The Infants Born Alive bill (H. 3403) is not about abortion,” Hendrick said. “It is about infants who are already born. It is about medical personnel doing all they can to help a baby after being delivered from the mother.” Legislators affirmed the bill by a vote of 91-22. “While the House has been diligent in passing this type of legislation, the bill gets buried in the Senate year after year,” Hendrick said. The bill is currently assigned to the Senate Judiciary Committee.
The Freedom of Conscience Act (H. 3408) protects healthcare professionals by recognizing their right to refuse to participate in procedures because of personal beliefs. It allows South Carolina to opt out of the federal healthcare plan that affirms abortion. According to Delleney, “It prevents taxpayers from paying for elective abortions. It prevents people who have private insurance from paying for other people who have abortions. If you want abortion coverage, you can purchase it.”
“Arguments that abortion insurance offered under a separate premium/policy would not be available or that women would not look for this coverage are weak,” Hendrick said. “There are valid comparisons to potential abortion coverage and to existing insurance for floods, earthquakes, and long-term care. People buy these policies for their own protection every day in South Carolina.”
Freedom of Conscience passed by a margin of 69-41. The bill has moved to the Senate and is assigned to the Medical Affairs Committee.