Many Republican lawmakers are starting to back away from restrictive abortion bans amid widespread criticism from the nation's people after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade.
An aggressive push by GOP members to pass hard-line antiabortion measures is faltering in some state legislatures and on Capitol Hill. This is the latest indication that many Americans are balking at extreme restrictions being imposed.
Republicans and Antiabortion Efforts
Republicans in South Carolina failed to pass a near-total abortion ban during an extended legislative session on Thursday night. They were unable to agree on whether or not to include exceptions for rape and incest.
In West Virginia, a recent special session over similar legislation for abortion ban ended in gridlock. At the same time, efforts aimed at advancing a strict nationwide ban in Congress have quietly fizzled.
After lawmakers pushed for a national "heartbeat ban" on abortion in the spring, which would have outlawed the procedure as soon as cardiac activity is detected, which is around six weeks of pregnancy, Republicans and some antiabortion advocates have retreated from the idea, as per the Washington Post.
Now, some legislators are pushing for a 15-week ban while others have abandoned any kind of national abortion legislation due to resistance. West Virginia state Sen. Tom Takubo, who refused to support a near-total ban without rape and incest exceptions, said that they were not elected as kings or dictators but rather, to serve the will of the people.
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The Republican said that even in the most rural and conservative parts of his state, he still believes that the majority thinks there should be exemptions for rape and incest. According to a March poll, 69% of Americans, including 56% of Republicans, said that abortion should be legal when the pregnancy resulted from rape.
According to CNN, the situation comes after the South Carolina Republican-led Senate was unable to pass a bill on Thursday and instead amend the state's already restrictive abortion law. This was a result of some Republicans joining forces with Democrats to block the bill from being passed.
Women's Rights
South Carolina House bill 5399 passed the state House last month and garnered enough support from Senate Republicans to ban nearly all abortions in the state. However, a filibuster on Thursday from GOP state Sen. Tom Davis opposed it. GOP members did not have enough votes to overcome a filibuster and proceed to a vote on the bill, which requires a higher threshold of votes.
On the Senate floor on Thursday night, Davis said, "I'm not going to let this (bill) come to a vote unless this body votes and sits me down." Republicans then chose to insert language to change the state's existing six-week ban on abortion.
The ban has been blocked by the South Carolina Supreme Court from being enforced after taking effect shortly after Roe v. Wade was overturned. The state's 2016 law that bans abortions 20 weeks after conception is currently in effect as a state court continues to review the law.
Davis said that he promised his daughters he would not vote to make South Carolina's current abortion ban stricter because women have rights too. He said, "The moment we become pregnant we lost all control over what goes on with our bodies. I'm here to tell you I'm not going to let it happen," CBS News reported.
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