SOUTH CAROLINA BAPTIST CONVENTION OFFICE OF PUBLIC POLICY

URGENT CALL FOR ACTION FOR THE SOUTH CAROLINA SENATE

This week, the leadership of the South Carolina Senate led their colleagues to agree to set the Human Life Protection Act (H3774) for special order.  What this means is the Senate will bring the bill to the floor for debate next Tuesday, April 25.  The debate is scheduled to begin on Tuesday and it will likely spill over into Wednesday. 

This represents the first positive movement we have seen in weeks on the pro-life front here in South Carolina.  The Senate and the House have been at odds over whether the Senate should pass the House bill or the House should pass the Senate bill.  The fact the Senate has decided to debate and hold a vote on the House version gives us our best chance this session to protect life in the womb.

According to DHEC, South Carolina is now an abortion destination state with abortions allowed up to 22 weeks of gestation.  We are now seeing over 1000 abortions per month with 50% of those abortions being performed on women who are coming from other states, particularly Georgia.  We must do everything in our power to stop this holocaust!

There are six Senators who, in the past, have filibustered this bill, keeping it from coming to the floor for a vote.  As I have previously stated, it takes 24 votes in the Senate to pass a bill and 26 votes will sustain a filibuster.  Below are the six Senators who have filibustered this bill in the past:

Sen. Tom Davis

Sen. Katrina Shealy

Sen. Penry Gustafson

Sen. Sandy Senn

Sen. Luke Rankin

Sen. Greg Hembree

If you are a constituent of any of these Senators, please contact them and respectfully ask them to refrain from filibustering the bill.  If we can end the filibuster, several of our Senators have told me we have the votes to pass the bill. 

Obviously, time is critical.  The debate and vote will take place next week on Tuesday and Wednesday, April 25 and 26.  Your action can make a difference in this debate!  Spread the word through your networks, your contacts, and your congregation.  Let everyone you know, if they care about this issue, this is the best chance we will have this legislative session to bring an end to our state holocaust of the unborn. 

Here is the website where you can find out who your Senator is and how to contact them:

www.scstatehouse.gov

He must increase, I must decrease

Dr. Tony Beam

Director of the Office of Public Policy

SCBC