S.C. Gov. Henry McMaster’s 2018 executive order aimed at defunding abortion provider Planned Parenthood is headed to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Under the governor’s order, which lower courts have never allowed to take effect, the state’s Medicaid patients would have been blocked from accessing any form of medical care at Planned Parenthood clinics.
“Every person should be able to access quality, affordable health care from a provider they trust,” said Jenny Black, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood South Atlantic. “This case is politics at its worst: anti-abortion politicians using their power to target Planned Parenthood and block people who use Medicaid as their primary form of insurance from getting essential health care like cancer screenings and birth control.”
But according to McMaster, any state funds spent at Planned Parenthood clinics effectively underwrite their abortion services.
“Taxpayer dollars should never fund abortion providers like Planned Parenthood,” the governor said in a social media statement. “In 2018, I issued an executive order to end this practice in South Carolina. I’m confident the U.S. Supreme Court will agree with me that states shouldn’t be forced to subsidize abortions.”
In earlier proceedings, lower courts found that McMaster’s order violated U.S. law, which allows patients using federal Medicaid funds to access the family planning provider of their choice. The injunction that prevents the order from taking effect will remain in place while the Supreme Court reviews the case.
In other recent news
Spratt, former S.C. congressman, dies at 82. Longtime South Carolina Congressman John Spratt, who pushed through a balanced budget deal in the 1990s, died late Saturday in his home due to complications from Parkinson’s disease. As tributes poured in, he was remembered for his intelligence, principled leadership and mastery of the federal budget.
Patterson dies at age 93. State Sen. Kay Patterson of Columbia, who served more than 30 years in the state legislature, died Friday at age 93. Known for his wit and wisdom, he left “an indelible mark” on the state, according to S.C. Democrats.
Prefiled bill in state legislature could punish women with murder charge for abortion. A proposed bill in the Statehouse would establish life at conception and treat abortion as murder. “It defines life as beginning at conception, and it protects every unborn child from that point so that nobody is left behind. We’re trying to make sure that abortion is completely outlawed in South Carolina,” Rep. Josiah Magnuson said.
S.C. Supreme Court chief justice tightens rules for lawyer-legislators. Recent orders from Supreme Court Chief Justice John Kittredge pare back when lawyer-legislators can skip court and restrict senators’ ability to argue cases before the judges they control.
S.C. Statehouse seating involves strategic choices. Legislators’ requests are handled on a first-come, first-served basis. And because seating isn’t segregated by party, lawmakers from opposite sides can get to know one another.
Former S.C. Senate candidate ordered to pay $76k after suing local paper for defamation. John Gallman, a financial advisor who unsuccessfully ran for state Senate in 2020, sued the local newspaper company Waccamaw Publishers in 2021 for the Myrtle Beach Herald’s coverage of his campaign.
Enforcement of school cellphone ban in S.C. starts in January. Starting in January, every public school district in the state is required to start implementing a student cellphone ban, if they have not done so already.
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