From: Columbia Christians for Life
Sender: CCFL@mail.sc-online.net
UPDATE on "Right to Life Act of South Carolina" (H.3213/S.111) - March 17
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South Carolina's pro-life bill to end "legalized" abortion.
Important co-sponsor added this week, the SC House Majority Leader, who is also a member of the full (25-member) Judiciary Committee.
Another important co-sponsor added this week (provided the bill makes it out of subcommittee), was yet another member of the full (25-member) Judiciary Committee.
Total SC House bill increased to a highest-ever, 39 co-sponsors.
However, the first step is for the bill to make it through the Constitutional Laws Subcommittee. At present, only one of the five-members is signed on as a co-sponsor.
No date yet set for public hearing. It could be scheduled for the last week in March or, more likely, the first week in April.
The focus now of lobbying efforts by people across South Carolina should be on these three members of the Constitutional Laws Subcommittee who at this time are not in favor of supporting the bill:
1) Rep. Jim Harrison (R-Columbia)
2) Rep. Ben Hagood (R-Charleston)
3) Rep. Creighton Coleman (D-Fairfield/Chester)
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SC HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:
Rep. Ralph Davenport (R-Spartanburg) and Rep. Lewis Vaughn (R-Greenville)are the primary co-sponsors of this bill. As of 3/16/05, there was a total of 39 co-sponsors (last year there were 34 co-sponors). See link to the text of bill H.3213 at http://www.christianlifeandliberty.net/ or go to SC Legislative website at:www.scstatehouse.net/sess116_2005-2006/bills/3213.htm
These are the names of the 39 SC House members who ARE co-sponsors of H.3213:
Sponsors: Reps. Davenport, Vaughn, Toole, Tripp, Vick, Simrill, Bingham, J.R. Smith, Rice, Talley, G. Brown, Barfield, Owens, M.A. Pitts, G.R. Smith, Hamilton, White, Clark, Walker, Pinson, Loftis, Leach, McGee, W.D. Smith, Viers, Cato, Perry, Delleney, Altman, Cooper,Haskins, Huggins, Littlejohn, Hiott, Mahaffey, Wilkins, Merrill, D.C. Smith and Herbkersman [39 total: 37 R, 2 D]
NOTE:
There are 74 Republicans in the SC House; only (exactly) half (37) have signed onas co-sponsors of H.3213. These below are the names of the other 37 who have NOT yet signed on:
George Bailey, Nathan Ballentine, Joan Brady, Catherine Ceips, Richard Chalk, Converse Chellis, Alan Clemmons, Marty Coates, Bill Cotty, Thomas Dantzler, Jeff Duncan, TracyEdge, Marion Frye, Ben Hagood, Nikki Haley, Nelson Hardwick, Bobby Harrell, Jim Harrison, Shirley Hinson, Chip Limehouse, James Lucas, Becky Martin, Ralph Norman, Ted Pitts, Bill Sandifer, Wallace Scarborough, Phil Sinclair, B.R. Skelton, Murrell Smith, Jim Stewart, Adam Taylor, Michael Thompson, Ronnie Townsend, David Umphlett, Bill Whitmire, William Witherspoon, and Annette Young [37 Republicans total not signed on as co-sponsors; the two underlined in 'bold' type are members of the critical Constitutional Laws Subcommittee, the vital 'first step' for the bill. Those underlined in regular type are members of the full 25-man Judiciary Committee, the next step, if,Lord willing, the Right to Life Act of SC passes the Con Laws Subcommittee.]
The South Carolina Legislature returned on Tuesday, January 11, 2005 to begin a new legislative session. The "Right to Life Act of South Carolina", if passed by the Republican-majority SC General Assembly, and signed by Republican SC Governor Mark Sanford, would recognize the God-given, legal "personhood" of pre-birth human beings at fertilization under Article I., Section 3. of the South CarolinaState Constitution, thereby ending so-called "legalized" abortion (child-murder) in South Carolina. The RTL Act of SC would "establish justice" for pre-birth human beings by establishing "THAT THE RIGHT TO DUE PROCESS AND THE RIGHT TO EQUAL PROTECTION VEST AT FERTILIZATION." The SC State Constitution already protects legal "persons" from being deprived of their lives "without due process of law," or from being "denied the equal protection of the laws."
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Progress and Status of RTL Act of South Carolina:
1. An important co-sponsor of H.3213 in the SC House was added on Mon., 3/14/05 - SC House Majority (R) Leader, Rep. Jim Merrill (R-Berkeley/Charleston), who is also a member of the full (25-member) Judiciary Committee.
2. Another important co-sponsor was added on Wed., 3/16/05 - who is also a member of the full Judiciary Committee, Rep. Bill Herbkersman (R-Beaufort). Of course the bill would first have to make it out of the Constitutional Laws Subcommittee, where, unfortunately, at present, only one of the 5 members is currently signed on as a co-sponsor.
3. The present total in the SC House is 39 co-sponsors. This is the highest ever, however the goal is 50, and it doesn't matter how many co-sponsors there are in the full SC House if the bill doesn't make it out of the subcommittee.
4. Even though now the House Speaker (David Wilkins, R-Greenville); the House Speaker Pro Tempore (Doug Smith, R-Spartanburg), the House Majority (R) Leader (Jim Merrill, R-Berkeley/Charleston), and the chairman of the Constitutional Laws Subcommitee (Greg Delleney, R-Chester/York) are all now co-sponsors of the bill, we do not yet have the votes to get the bill out of the Con Laws Subcommittee. House Judiciary Committee chairman Rep. Jim Harrison (R-Columbia) is NOT a co-sponsor of the bill, and he has opposed the bill since at least 2001. Rep. Harrison is also, unfortunately, a member of the Con Laws Subcommittee. Question: Is the House leadership truly supporting this bill ? Has anyone seen any public statements by any leading SC House Republican in the print, radio, or TV media ? What about a public statement of support from the 'bully pulpit' of the governor's office by Republican Governor Mark Sanford ? I have not seen any such thing.
5. We are still seeking a 'date' for a public hearing. Rep. Davenport (R), one of the House bill's two primary sponsors, is awaiting a response from Judiciary Committee chairman, Rep. Jim Harrison to grant our request. So far, we have been told that would be after the House budget debate. Correction: In the last RTL Act of SC UPDATE (March 4), it was reported that the floor debate for the SC State budget would be the following week. That information was incorrect. The floor budget debate actually took place this week, and was completed on Tuesday, March 15. I apologize for this error. Please forgive me.
6. Next week (March 22-24), the SC House will be in recess, and will not return to the State House until Tuesday, March 29. This means that efforts to contact any House members between now (Thursday, March 17) and Monday, March 28, should most likely be directed to a House member's home district, either at his place of work/business, or his home, if contacting him by mail, fax, phone, or personal visit.
7. Please pray for the scheduling of a public hearing for H.3213 (the House bill), and that we would preferably get at least two weeks notice of the hearing date to plan and arrange for speakers. At this point, the soonest possible date could be in the last week of March (March 29-31), but more likely not sooner than one day during the first week in April (April 5-7). This is expected to be in the Constitutional Laws Subcommittee, of the full House Judiciary Committee; and to be held in the Blatt Office Building (5th floor) on the SC State House grounds in Columbia (near intersection of Assembly and Pendleton Streets). [ Legislative History: The bill failed by a vote of 4-1 in subcommittee on April 25, 2001. The bill passed in subcommittee by a vote of 2-0 on April 15, 2004; and then failed the next week (after a fraudulent voice vote) in the Judiciary Committee on April 20, 2004. ]
8. The Constitutional Laws Subcommittee has five members; at present, only one of those five members has signed onto the Right to Life Act of SC (H.3213) as a co-sponsor. The focus now of lobbying efforts by people across South Carolina should be on these three members of the Constitutional Laws Subcommittee who at this time are not infavor of supporting the bill:
Rep. Jim Harrison (R-Columbia)
Rep. Ben Hagood (R-Mount Pleasant/Charleston)
Rep. Creighton Coleman (D-Winnsboro)
[The contact information for Harrison, Hagood, Harrison, and Coleman is provided further below.]
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Most Immediate Action Items: [ this is what YOU can do to help pass H.3213 ]
1. For those who know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour, pray that God would turn the hearts of all five Con Laws Subcomm. members (3 R's, 2 D's) to support the RTL Act of SC - at present only the chairman, Rep. Delleney is a co-sponsor
2. Contact these three members of the Con Laws Subcomm. and ask them to sign on as a co-sponsor, especially if you live in their SC House district. Even if you do not live in their district, please at least send them an e-mail, or maybe even a telephone call, and express your support for the RTL Act of SC, and that you would like to see them sign on as a co-sponsor of H.3213. If they refuse to support this constitutional legislation to end child-murder-by-abortion, then ask them if they will AT LEAST not vote AGAINST the bill.
The addresses, phone numbers, faxes, and e-mails to contact these three Constitutional Laws Subcommittee members are provided further below:
* Ben Hagood (R-Mount Pleasant)
* Jim Harrison (R-Columbia) [Rep. Harrison is also chair of the full Judiciary Committee]
* Rep. Creighton Coleman (D-Winnsboro)
3. Spread the word to your pro-life friends; send this e-mail to your pro-life (only) e-mail list. Do not send this to those who are pro-abortion in principle or practice [note: the executive director of SC Citizens for Life (SC's manifestation of the National Right to Life stronghold) has worked against passage of this bill]
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Please call / e-mail / write / fax Rep's Jim Harrison, Ben Hagood, and Creighton Coleman, as soon as possible (NLT than Monday, March 28th), and urge them to support the Right to Life Act of SC. Ask them to co-sponsor; after the acknowledgment of God, their first moral duty as civil ministers, is to prevent the shedding of innocent blood !
IF THEY SAY ROE V. WADE IS THE "law of the land" (it is not according to Article VI. of the Constitution),then remind them all three as professing Christians,
http://www.scstatehouse.net/html-pages/housebios.html
that God's Law is higher than man's law (Acts 5:29; Acts 4:19,20; Daniel 6:7-10; and Exodus 1:15-22), and remind them that God has already said,"Thou shalt not kill (murder)." (Exodus 20:13)
If they refuse to co-sponsor or just vote for the bill,then ask them if they will at least not vote against the bill.
Their foremost responsibility, is to rule in the fear of God, to "Kiss the Son, lest He be angry,..." (2 Samuel 23:3, Psalm 2:10-12; Romans 13:4). God's Word is true for all men, for all nations, for all time (Matthew 4:4).
Contact Information for SC House Representatives: Hagood (R), Harrison (R), and Coleman (D):
Representative Ben A. Hagood, Jr. District 112 - Charleston Co.
Contact Address:
Fax: 843-972-1005 (H) P.O. Box 220, Mount Pleasant, 29465
Bus. (843)972-1000 Home (843) 883-9078
(C) 306D Blatt Bldg., Columbia, 29211
Bus. (803)734-2950 Home
E-Mail Address: HagoodB@scstatehouse.net
Representative James H. Harrison District 75 - Richland Co.
Contact Address:
Fax: 803-734-9945 and 803-252-7145 (H)
[write to: 512 Blatt Bldg., Columbia, 29211]
Bus. (803)256-0049 Home (803) 782-6988
(C) 512 Blatt Bldg., Columbia, 29211
Bus. (803)734-3120 Home (803) 782-6988
E-Mail Address: HJU@scstatehouse.net
Representative Creighton B. Coleman District 41 - Chester & Fairfield Cos.
Contact Address:
Fax: 803-635-9228
(H) 125 S. Garden St., Winnsboro, 29180
Bus. (803)635-6884 Home (803) 635-7066
(C) 422A Blatt Bldg., Columbia, 29211
Bus. (803)734-3140 Home
E-Mail Address: cbc@scstatehouse.net
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ALL HOUSE MEMBERS MAILING ADDRESS:
You may also write any Member of the House at:
Post Office Box 11867
Columbia, S.C. 29211-1867
ALL HOUSE MEMBERS FAX NUMBER:
You may also fax any Member of the House at (make sure "To:" their name is included):
803-734-2925
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If the Republicans are supposed to be pro-life, and since the Republicans have been in the majority in the South Carolina House of Representatives for the last ten years, since 1995,then why is it that the Right to Life Act of SC, has never yet even made it out of the full House Judiciary Committee (chaired by bill-opponent Rep. Jim Harrison (R) in the first SEVEN YEARS that it has been introduced (1998 through 2004) ??? The bill did pass the Constitutional Laws Subcommittee by a vote of 2 - 0 on April 15, 2004.
In the 124-member SC House, there are presently 74 Republicans and 50 Democrats; so the allegedly "Pro-life" Republcans have a 24-vote advantage over the Democrats ! There are presently 39 co-sponsors for H.3213. The goal this year is to seek 50 co-sponsors for the bill; we are now just 11 short of that target. However, we still need enough votesto get the bill out of subcommittee, out of the full Judiciary Committee, and, Lordwilling, out to the floor of the SC House. PRAY ! (fast as you are led, I will be fasting on Tuesday, March 22 and Tuesday, March 29).
The Right to Life Act of SC was introduced over seven YEARS ago (in 1998), and has yet to make it through the House Judiciary Committee chaired by Rep. Jim Harrison. Rep. Harrison first publicly opposed the Right to Life Act of SC in 2001 - voting against it in 2001; and then on April 20, 2004, he conducted a fraudulent voice vote in the House Judiciary Committee, declaring the bill defeated when subsequent interview of individual Judiciary Committee members revealed that the bill should have passed by a vote of 11 "ayes" (in favor of the bill) to 10 "no's" (against the bill).
"For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities,..." Eph. 6:12, KJV
If you know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour, please pray that the Right to Life Act of South Carolina, Lord willing, will make it through the SC House this year !
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Steve Lefemine, pro-life missionary
dir., Columbia Christians for Life
CCL lobbyist
Columbia, SC
http://www.christianlifeandliberty.net/
http://www.righttolifeactofsc.net/
(803) 765-0916
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Below are key excerpts rom the text of the "Right to Life Act of South Carolina":
www.scstatehouse.net/sess116_2005-2006/bills/3213.htm
www.scstatehouse.net/sess116_2005-2006/bills/111.htm
Whereas, Article I, Section 3 of the Constitution of the State of South Carolina, 1895, guarantees that no person may be deprived of life, liberty, or property without due process of law or denied the equal protection of the laws; and
Section 1-1-320. The right to due process, whereby no person may be deprived of life, liberty, or property without due process of law, and the right to equal protection of the laws, both of which rights are guaranteed by Article I, Section 3 of the Constitution of this State, vest at fertilization."
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For further information, contact Steve Lefemine, dir., Columbia Christians for Life at the CCL ministry office:
CCFL@sc-online.net
(803) 765-0916
P.O. Box 50358, Columbia, SC 29250
http://www.christianlifeandliberty.net/
To determine who your SC House and SC Senate members are, look for the SC House district and the SC Senate district numbers on your SC Voters Registration Card, or call your County Election Commission / Voter Registration Office to get those two numbersfor your home's street address. Then you can locate your SC House member and SC Senate member on-line at http://www.scstatehouse.net/.
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If you would like to help Columbia Christians for Life, or Voice of the Unborn financially, in our efforts to pass principled, biblically and constitutionally based pro-life legislation to end (not just "regulate") so called "legalized" abortion (government-protected-child-murder) in South Carolina, contributions are welcome, much needed, and can be made as follows:
(Note: There are office administrative costs, photocopying costs, postage costs,and internet costs associated with this campaign to fight for the lives of unborn children. With sufficient financial support, radio commercials promoting the Right to Life Act of SC could be aired, as has been done by Voice of the Unborn, airing wonderfully inspirational radio commercials in support of the SC Unborn Children Monument memorial bill (H.3338), on WIS and WVOC in Columbia, and on WTMA in Charleston. With additional support to Voice of the Unborn, it is possible that radio commercials for the SC Unborn Children Monument memorial bill may also be aired in the Greenville media market.)
Columbia Christians for Life
Please make checks for missionary support to: "Steve Lefemine"
Please make checks for ministry support to: "Columbia Christians for Life"
Mail all contributions (not tax-deductible) to:
Steve Lefemine, or, Columbia Christians for Life,
P.O. Box 50358, Columbia, SC 29250
Voice of the Unborn
Please make checks to either: "Johnny Gardner" or "Voice of the Unborn"
Mail all contributions (not tax-deductible) to:
Johnny Gardner, or, Voice of the Unborn
120 Amsterdam Drive, Apt. #G
Columbia, SC 29210
(803) 731-0062
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