South Carolina lawmakers to debate on rape, incest exceptions in proposed abortion ban

Protesters show their support for legal abortion at the South Carolina Statehouse in Columbia on May 2, 2022. (Joshua Boucher/The State/Tribune News Service via Getty Images) COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - A South Carolina Senate committee voted Tuesday to remove exceptions for rape and incest from a proposed abortion ban setting up a showdown among Republicans wary of passing such a restrictive bill.Democrats helped set up the fight, choosing not to vote with three moderate Republicans who wanted to keep the exceptions in the bill.The same bill without the exceptions appeared to fail in the more conservative state House last week before some Republicans maneuvered through a series of votes to allow abortions for rape and incest victims up to the 12th week of pregnancy.RELATED: South Carolina House approves abortion ban with exceptionsThe Senate Medical Affairs Committee vote 9-8 with two Republicans joining all Democrats — to send the bill to the full Senate, where debate is expected to begin Wednesday morning.

The exceptions could be restored during that debate.The U.S. Supreme Court has overturned the Roe vs. Wade landmark case that legalized abortion nationwide, which will likely leading to many states enacting restrictive laws or full abortion bans.

Protesters had gathered outside the Supreme Court in anticipation of the 6-3 ruling. The court went down ideological lines, with Chief Justice Roberts concurring with the five other conservative justices.Democrats also refused to vote on other proposals by Republican Sen.

Tom Davis, who has said for weeks the bill needs to be modified from a total ban before he can support it.They included increasing access to contraceptives and including birth control as part of the state's.