Correction and revision of earlier April 29, 2007 report:
SC House Republican leader delaying progress of Right to Life Act of SC
to facilitate passage of Ultrasound bill during the 2007 Session
In an earlier April 29, 2007 report, it was reported that Rep. Delleney was blocking the progress of the Right to Life Act, and the question was raised whether or not he was
still supporting the bill (H.3284). This report did not accurately reflect Rep. Delleney's
position, and I apologize to Rep. Delleney for the error. I should have waited longer until Rep. Delleney had clarified his position, instead of sending out that report too hastily.
Republican Chairman of the House Constitutional Laws Subcommittee,
Rep. Greg Delleney (R-Chester) has decided not to hold a public hearing on the
RTL Act of SC (H.3284) until action is complete in the SC General Assembly
on the Ultrasound bill (H.3355). The 2007 regular session ends June 7.
Once action is complete on the Ultrasound bill, Rep. Delleney has stated he will then
sign on as a co-sponsor of the Right to Life Act of SC, and grant us a public hearing.
The Ultrasound bill passed the House on March 22, and passed the Senate, amended, on May 17.
The House then further amended the Senate version on May 24, but the Senate non-concurred
on May 29. The House insisted on their amendment May 30, and appointed three members to a conference committee. So it appears the Ultrasound bill will continue to obstruct the RTL Act through the end of the regular 2007 Session. The net effect is that the public hearing for the RTL Act will not be held until the 2008 Session. This would be a delay of House action of nearly a year.
Meanwhile, the Senate version of the RTL Act (S.313), introduced January 23, will not be assigned
to a Subcommittee by the Judiciary Chairman, Senator Glenn McConnell (R-Charleston), until after the end of the regular 2007 Session on June 7.
The 2007Republican-majority make-up of the SC Senate is 24 Republicans and 20 Democrats (with two
vacant seats that had been occupied by Republicans).
These are the five members (3 Rep's, 2 Dem's) of the SC House Constitutional Laws Subcommittee:
Representative F. Gregory "Greg" Delleney, Jr., ( R ) District 43 - Chester & York Cos.
Representative Thad T. Viers,( R ) District 68 - Horry Co. (presently is a co-sponsor of H.3284, the RTL Act of SC)
Representative James H. Harrison,( R ) District 75 - Richland Co.
Representative Creighton B. Coleman, ( D ) District 41 - Chester & Fairfield Cos.
Representative Fletcher N. Smith, Jr.,( D ) District 23 - Greenville Co.
The 2007Republican-majority make-up of the SC House is 73 Republicans and 51 Democrats.
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2007:
The Right to Life Act of SC (H.3284) presently has 34 co-sponsors in the SC House.
2005 Background:
H.3213 - Right to Life Act of SC -2005/2006 Legislative Session, with 52 co-sponsors in the SC House
Report on Right to Life Act of SC (H.3213) passing Constitutional Laws Subcommittee on March 31, 2005:
'Take Action to Pass the RTL Act of SC' - April 1, 2005
South Carolina's pro-life bill to end "legalized" abortion (SC House bill H.3213)
On Thursday, March 31, the RTL Act of SC (H.3213) passed the Constitutional Laws Subcommittee,
on a 3 - 0 vote ! Rep’s Delleney, F.N. Smith, and Hagood voted for the bill. Rep. Harrisonabstained.
(Rep. Coleman was not present.)
Report on Right to Life Act of SC (H.3213) passing the full Judiciary Committee on April 5, 2005:
'Take Action to Pass the RTL Act of SC' - April 7, 2005
South Carolina's pro-life bill to end "legalized" abortion (SC House bill H.3213)
On Tuesday, April 5, the RTL Act of SC (H.3213) passed the House Judiciary Committee
on a 15 - 5 vote ! We give praise and all glory to the Lord Jesus Christ for the bill’s progress !
To listen to the audio recording of the April 5, 2005 full House Judiciary Committee debate on H.3213,
when Rep. Delleney articulately explained and defended the Right to Life Act of SC, go to the home page
of and click on:
SC House Judiciary Committee, April 5, 2005 - H.3213
Following debate, bill passed favorably by vote of 15 - 5 (roll call)
The Attorney General of SC Legal Opinion dated March 30, 2005 stated the Right to Life Act of SC
is constitutional on its face, though would have to be adjudicated if applied to abortion. To see the
SC A/G's written opinion, go to # 23 on the 'RTL Act of SC' page of :
Legal Opinion (2005) of South Carolina Attorney General on the Right to Life Act of SC
"Accordingly, it is our opinion that the Right to Life Act is constitutional."
On the floor of the SC House on April 13, 2005, to the surprise of Columbia Christians for Life and
Voice of the Unborn, a 'fatal flaw' rape exception amendment for the so-called 'morning-after pill' was added.
The bill passed the full SC House by a vote of 95 - 18 on April 13, 2005 with the rape exception amendment.
As explained in the Roe v Wade decision itself over 34 years ago, exceptions to "personhood" undermine the
legal concept and strategy of fetal "personhood." The 1973 Roe text clearly stated that if fetal personhood was established, then the abortion argument would collapse. This is why the rape exception amendment added on the
SC House floor was therefore a "fatal flaw" to the bill. As the Roe decision explained in a footnote by pro-abort
Roe author Justice Harry Blackmun, there can be no 'exceptions' to the assertion of fetal personhood. In other
words, when it comes to banning abortion, 'exceptions' to personhood are unconstitutional. See quotes
from 1973 Roe decision, and links to Roe decision at:
"Good" is the enemy of God's "best": the Ultrasound billversus the Right to Life Act of SC
The Right to Life Act of SC was first introduced in both the SC House and SC Senate in February 1998.
The Ultrasound bill on the other hand, is the latest in a long string of incrementalist, abortion-regulation bills, supported by the National Right to Life state chapter, SC Citizens for Life ( going back at least
17 years to 1990. In a very real, practical sense, the Ultrasound bill during the 2007 SC Legislative Session
(January 9 through June 7) has been a hindrance, obstruction, and distraction, in the view of CCL, to a more
proper focus on principled abortion-ban legislation (like the RTL Act). God's requirement in the case of
Murder is JUSTICE, not Regulation ! (e.g., Romans 13:1-4, Genesis 9:6, Micah 6:8, Amos 5:15, Deut. 25:1).
The SCCL website does not even mention the Right to Life Act of SC. As Oswald Chambers' devotional
entitled "My Utmost For His Highest" says, in so many words:"Good" is the enemy of God's "best."
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If you are a born-again Christian, please pray for passage of the RTL Act of SC in 2008. The Supreme
Court said in Roe over 34 years ago that if legal 'personhood' was established for the fetus (pre-birth
human being) without 'exception,' that the abortion argument would collapse. The RTL Act of SC does
this very thing. Abortion could have been stopped 34 years ago.
"But judgment shall return unto righteousness: and all the upright in heart shall follow it."
Psalm 94:15
Hallelu-Yah !
Steve Lefemine, pro-life missionary,
dir., Columbia Christians for Life
PO Box 50358, Columbia, SC 29250 / (803) 765-0916
May 30, 2007