SC Lawmakers Approve One-Day Wait for Abortion

Dubbed the "two-visit bill" by critics, the measure increases the mandated wait from an hour to a day. Supporters said it gives women time to reflect on a decision that can never be undone. They also argued it puts South Carolina in line with a majority of states that have waiting periods, though Democrats noted other states don't tie the clock to an ultrasound.

"We will save lives," said Rep. Steve Parker, R-Boiling Springs. "If we save one life, I think it's worthwhile."

Critics argued that requiring two trips creates a burden, especially for poor, rural women who may have to take two days off work and arrange travel to one of the three clinics statewide that provide abortions.

A proposal to bar employers from firing a woman who misses work because of the law failed.

"I have trouble telling businesses what they can and cannot do," argued Rep. Greg Delleney, R-Chester, the bill's sponsor. "Are we going to do the same for hip replacement, for gastric bypass surgery?"

Democratic opponents called the measure an arrogant assumption that women can't think for themselves, but rather need the Legislature's male majority to carve out their time to contemplate.

It says "we don't think you thought well enough about it on your own. We don't trust you enough, so you've got to come back twice," said Rep. James Smith, D-Columbia. "My male colleagues in this chamber won't ever be making that decision, but you will, with a push of a button on your desk, make a decision for women."

Only one of the House's 17 women took the podium. The bill, approved 83-28, requires another, perfunctory vote before going to the Senate, where there are no female lawmakers.

Rep. Gilda Cobb-Hunter called abortion foes hypocritical for passing legislation putting up barriers to abortion, while defeating a proposal to expedite social services to women who decide against abortion.

"We love the fetus, but there's very little outpouring of love when that child is born," said the Orangeburg Democrat, a social worker. "For some of us, this appears to be a very slippery slope that we started two years ago. For some of us, it begs the question: How far will we go?"

As the three-hour debate dragged on, legislative leaders had to continually remind members to check their emotions and not get personal.

Democrats scolded the GOP majority for spending so much time arguing about abortion, rather than dealing with the state's budget crisis and finding ways to put people back to work in a state where the jobless rate was the nation's third-highest, at 9.5 percent, in December.

"We've been talking about this issue entirely too much," Smith said. "Is this what you guys are all about? Is this the No. 1 issue we need to address - a two-visit bill so that a lady in Allendale will have to leave work twice to go to Charleston or Columbia?"

In response, Republicans said saving the lives of the unborn is not a waste of time.

"To say that is not a priority - to say that is arrogance - I take offense to that. We're talking about the life of a child," said Rep. Garry Smith, R-Simpsonville. "To say the budget, the dollar, is more important than the life of a child is offensive."

The vote follows nearly two years of argument over Delleney's proposal to require women view their ultrasound images. The Legislature passed a compromise last year saying women must be asked if they want to see the ultrasound, either on the screen or on a printout.

Without debate, and just before adjourning, the House also approved 105-5 a measure dealing with the rare case of fetus who survives an abortion attempt, entitling the child to lifesaving treatment or comfort as any other person. Supporters say it also applies to later-term abortion cases where doctors induce labor, expecting the lungs to be insufficiently developed for breathing. No group keeps track of how often either happens.

The bill defines a person as anyone who's breathing and has a beating heart after birth, whether that's by labor, cesarean section, or abortion. It copies the Born Alive Infant Protection Act signed by President Bush in 2002 that applies to federal land and facilities.