SC Senate approves bill banning abortions after 19 weeks

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — The state Senate has adopted a compromise on an anti-abortion bill, allowing the chamber to move on to road funding.

The chamber approved Tuesday a bill that bans abortions past 19 weeks. The 37-7 vote occurred after senators shut down a threatened filibuster by one of the Legislature’s most strident abortion foes.

GOP Sen. Lee Bright of Roebuck pledged to block passage because he opposed exceptions in cases of rape and incest. Other abortion foes said Bright’s strict opposition would kill the bill.

The compromise also provides exceptions to save the mother’s life and in cases of severe fetal anomalies.

Another vote is needed to return the bill to the House.

The vote occurred as business leaders across the state urged senators to consider a plan to fund road work.