Latest update on status of next (3rd) hearing for the Right to Life Act of SC:
The chairman of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee which presently holds the Right to Life Act of SC (H.3213/S.111) has indicated he is not inclined to bring up this bill to ban all abortions in South Carolina until after deliberating on another 'pro-life' bill called the Unborn Victims of Violence Act (S.1084),co-sponsored by, among others, Senators Jim Ritchie and Glenn McConnell. Neither Subcommittee chairman Senator Jim Ritchie (R-Greenville, Spartanburg, Union), nor the other three Republicans who can vote for the Right to Life Act of SC (H.3213/S.111) at the subcommittee level (i.e., Senators Luke Rankin (R-Myrtle Beach/Conway), Randy Scott (R-Summerville), Glenn McConnell (Charleston)) are presently co-sponsors of the Senate version of the bill (S.111). You can view the current co-sponsors of the Right to Life Act of SC bill on-line at:
www.scstatehouse.net/sess116_2005-2006/bills/111.htm
The next hearing on the Right to Life Act of SC (H3213/S111) will therefore not be this week (Feb 28, Mar 1-2), and it is unknown when the next public hearing might be. In the meantime...Mail / Fax State Senators the lobbying memo that can be downloaded from the internet at: 20. Blank Form - Memo Form for Lobbying SC Senate Members
This delay provides time for continued opportunity to lobby the five SC Senators who can vote on this bill (Senators Ritchie (R), Rankin (R), Scott (R), Lourie (D), and McConnell (R). FOUR of these five senators are REPUBLICANS. The 2004 National Republican Party Platform states: "... we endorse legislation to make it clear that the Fourteenth Amendment's protections apply to unborn children." (i.e., due process and equal protection). So why are there only SIX co-sponsors of S.111 in the SC Senate (see www.scstatehouse.net/sess116_2005-2006/bills/111.htm ) out of TWENTY-SIX (26) Republicans in the SC Senate, when S.111 vests legal personhood at fertilization for all pre-birth humans, thereby invoking the due process and equal protections in Article I., Section 3. of the SC State Constitution, and protecting all pre-birth human beings from murder by abortion ???
PLEASE PHONE, E-MAIL, WRITE, FAX, AND/OR VISIT ANY OR ALL OF THESE FIVE SC SENATORS, especially the FOUR REPUBLICANS, with this simple message:
"Please vote for and pass the Right to Life Act of SC without any amendments for exceptions. Please sign on as a co-sponsor of S.111."
(Out-of-State pro-lifers are welcome to lobby these men as well. If one state can pass principled, biblical, constitutional, ban-all-abortions (no "exceptions") legislation (as Ohio, Georgia, North Dakota, and New Hampshire have tried in addition to South Carolina), then perhaps that would help open the door for more states to do so as well.)
One easy way to lobby these public officials is to use the blank memo form used to lobby SC State Senators at the SC State House. Go to the link below to print out the Blank Form, and then fax or send it by regular mail to these FIVE SC State Senators at their home or Columbia addresses below.
20. Blank Form - Memo Form for Lobbying SC Senate Members
To see an example of a completed SC Senate lobbying form, go to the next link below (both links are at www.ChristianLifeandLiberty.net - click on "RTL Act of SC" button).
21. Example Form - Memo Form for Lobbying SC Senate Members
These are the five members (4 R’s, 1 D) of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee which presently has the bill none of these five men are yet co-sponsors of the Right to Life Act of SC (S.111):
Senator Jim Ritchie, chairman (R - Spartanburg)
Senator Randy Scott (R - Summerville)
Senator Luke Rankin (R - Myrtle Beach)
Senator Joel Lourie (D - Columbia)
Senator Glenn McConnell, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee (R - Charleston)
Contact info for SC Senators:
Ritchie (R), Scott (R), Rankin (R), Lourie (D) and McConnell (R):
NOTE: all Senators can be faxed at 803-212-6299 include the Senator’s name on whatever you fax !
Senator James H. "Jim" Ritchie, Jr. District 13 - Greenville, Spartanburg & Union Cos.
(H) 302 South Pine St., Spartanburg, 29302
Bus. (864)585-2275 Home (864)585-6047
E-Mail Address: JHR@scsenate.org
(C) 608 Gressette Bldg., Columbia, 29202 /
Bus. (803) 212-6008/6032
Senator Randy Scott District 38 - Charleston & Dorchester Cos.
(H) 107 Cleveland St., Summerville, 29483
Bus. (843)873-5544 Home (843)871-2964
E-Mail Address: SCOTTR@scsenate.org
(C) 606 Gressette Bldg., Columbia, 29202 /
Bus. (803) 212-6024
Senator Luke A. Rankin, Sr. District 33 - Horry Co.
(H) 201 Beaty St., Conway, 29526
Bus. (843)248-2405 Home (843)626-6269
E-Mail Address: LR@scsenate.org
(C) 508 Gressette Bldg., Columbia, 29202 /
Bus. (803) 212-6132
Senator Joel Lourie District 22 - Kershaw & Richland Cos.
(H) P.O. Box 6212, Columbia, 29260
Bus.(803)765-9200 ext.257 Home(803)787-5802
E-Mail Addr: JBL@scsenate.org
(C) 504 Gressette Bldg., Columbia, 29202 /
Bus. (803) 212-6116
Senator Glenn F. McConnell (Senate Judiciary Committee chairman) District 41 Charleston County
(H) 27 Bainbridge Dr., Charleston, 29407
Bus. (843)747-7554 Home (843)571-3921
E-Mail Address: SJU@scsenate.org
(C) 101 Gressette Bldg., Columbia, 29202 /
Bus. (803) 212-6610
Note: Senator McConnell only can also be reached by fax at: (803)212-6606
_____________________________________________
February 28, 2006
Steve Lefemine, pro-life missionary
dir., Columbia Christians for Life
www.ChristianLifeandLiberty.net
www.RightoLifeActofSC.net
(803) 765-0916
The Right to Life Act of SC was first filed in 1998. It finally passed the Republican-majority SC House (74 Republicans/50 Democrats)last year on 2nd Reading on April 13, 2005 by a vote of 95 Y - 18 N, albeit with a fatal flaw rape exception amendment that now must be removed in the SC Senate, or the bill must be killed.
There were two Senate Judiciary Subcommittee hearings on this bill last year (May 4 and May 18, 2005), chaired by Senator Ritchie (R). No votes were taken. If the Right to Life Act of SC does not get passed this year by the SC Senate, then the process would have to start over again from the beginning next year (2007). The upcoming (Lord willing) Senate Judiciary Subcommittee hearing, chaired by Senator Jim Ritchie, with four other Senators also having the opportunity to vote on this bill (Senators Rankin (R), Scott (R), Lourie (D), and McConnell (R), is the next critical step in the legislative process. Are the Republicans, with 4 out of 5 voting members on Senator Ritchie's Subcommittee, truly pro-life ?
If you know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour, please pray Proverb 21:1 over these five men. Thank you. Praise the Lord. King Jesus is Lord of the 'Gates' - Matthew 16:18.
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