SC lawmakers disagree about abortion on 51st anniversary of Roe v. Wade decision

COLUMBIA, SC (WOLO) — On the 51st anniversary of the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision, Democrats in South Carolina are speaking out against the overturning of that ruling.

Monday, the party held an event at the statehouse urging pro-choice voters to make their voices heard at the polls.

 “The choice in 2024 is more rights versus fewer rights,” said Sen. Tameika Isaac Devine. “More freedom versus fewer freedoms.”

South Carolina Democratic Party Chair Christale Spain says no matter who wins the Republican presidential nomination, abortion rights nationwide will be under threat. 

“It goes without saying that the government has no authority to intervene in the decisions between a patient and their doctor,” said Rep. Ivory Thigpen, a Democrat from Columbia. “The government has authority to prevent access to healthcare, whether it’s the expansion of Medicaid or women’s rights as it relates to this issue that has divided so many of us.”

Thigpen believes lawmakers should be focused on other issues such as expanding healthcare access. 

“We must focus on the things that bring us together and make our state better,” the representative said. “We have 14 counties without OBGYNs.”

In response to Monday’s press conference, South Carolina Republican Party chairman Drew McKissick said in a statement ‘it is delusional to celebrate an outdated decision like Roe v. Wade and is a direct contradiction to what South Carolinians actually believe.’ 

“It’s interesting that we won’t bring this to a referendum,” Thigpen said. “It’s interesting that we won’t let the people decide.”

While Thigpen believes voters should decide on the issue of abortion, some of his Republican counterparts in the House hope to introduce more pro-life bills but not this legislative session. 

“There’s nothing in the Senate that has changed to make us think they would consider that bill again. We plan to bring it back up in 2025. After these elections, you will see it again,” said Rep. John McCravy, a Republican from Greenwood. “We do have the Heartbeat Bill in effect now which is a great development.”

The Heartbeat Bill in South Carolina currently bans abortion after 6 weeks with few exceptions. 

But whether you are both pro-life or pro-choice, both sides agree on one thing.

“We must vote,” Thigpen said. “The ballot is our answer. The answer has always been the way that we make change.”