South Carolina reacts to SCOTUS abortion decision

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) - Friday morning the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) overturned a 50 year precedent on abortion. Reactions came in from across South Carolina after the ruling.

South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster said,

“Today’s Supreme Court ruling is a resounding victory for the Constitution and for those who have worked for so many years to protect the lives of the most vulnerable among us. By the end of the day, we will file motions so that the Fetal Heartbeat Act will go into effect in South Carolina and immediately begin working with members of the General Assembly to determine the best solution for protecting the lives of unborn South Carolinians.”

South Carolina’s Attorney General Alan Wilson issued a statement,

“I want to thank the Supreme Court for returning decision-making power to the people of each state. For almost 50 years, our country’s abortion policy was controlled by nine unelected judges. I have always thought Roe v. Wade was bad policy, was wrongly decided, and not supported by the Constitution.

“However, it’s important to remember that this ruling does not outlaw abortion nationwide, it simply allows the people of each state to decide. This office will continue to defend any law the General Assembly enacts in response to this decision.

“This ruling is a victory for life, the rule of law, and local decision-making. Human life is the most precious thing we have and our Founders sought to protect life, not destroy it.”

Senator Tim Scott said in a statement,

“Today, the Supreme Court took an important step to protect the God-given right to life for millions of Americans by returning the power back to the people and the states, where it belongs.”

“A nation in which abortion is the ‘first and best’ answer for moms in challenging circumstances is a nation that has sacrificed its moral clarity and courage. America’s fundamental promises include the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Our support for babies and their mothers re-establishes those shared values that began to erode over the last several decades.”

“Furthermore, I commend the Justices for their courage in the face of unprecedented threats and violence. Their commitment to the Constitution and refusal to bend to intimidation gives me hope for the future of our nation.”

Senator Lindsey Graham wrote,

“Today’s decision by the Supreme Court is a long overdue constitutional correction allowing for elected officials in the states to decide issues of life.

“Roe was Constitutionally unsound from its inception as the flawed legal theory behind the decision gives unlimited power to five unelected Supreme Court justices. I believe it was one of the largest power grabs in the history of the Supreme Court. Under the Roe theory, almost anything could be a constitutional right depending on the views of five justices on substantive due process.

“The issue of life will now be decided by elected officials in the states, the same way the issue was handled until 1973. Simply stated, this decision represents a constitutional reset.

“Finally, all these decades of toiling in the vineyards fighting for conservative judges has paid off. I am glad to have done my part in this cause. I also appreciate President Trump’s leadership in nominating conservative justices.

“On this historic day, I cannot help but think of dear old friends like former Congressman Henry Hyde. He and many others worked so hard to protect the unborn, and today their dream came true.”

Representative Jim Clyburn said in a statement,

“Today’s Supreme Court Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization ruling further establishes the right-wing Republican justices’ radical disregard for individual rights and settled precedent. Politicians have been given veto power over women’s reproductive rights. As a result, 36 million women, who reside in the 26 states who have already passed restrictive laws or are poised to, will be prohibited from having an abortion or they will be forced to travel hundreds of miles at great expense to receive safe, medically appropriate care, likely resulting in increased complications and worsened health outcomes.”

The South Carolina Democratic Party said in an email,

“This is a direct result of Republicans’ unrelenting, decades-long war to deny us the power and freedom to make personal decisions about our own bodies. What health choices someone makes should stay between them and their doctor, and the GOP has no right to stick their noses in anyone else’s health care decisions.”

Rep. Jeff Duncan posted on social media:

Democrats for Life of South Carolina President Hayden Laye said in part in a statement, “Today’s decision by the Supreme Court of the United States is just the first step in the right direction.”

The South Carolina Republican Party (SCGOP) Chairman Drew McKissick said,

“The Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade is a victory for life everywhere. The pro-life movement has been working for decades to educate and motivate folks to stand for the unborn, and we’ll continue to do just that in this new life after Roe. Today is further proof that elections have consequences. Who we elect as President matters because judicial nominations matter. And today, the highest court in the land ruled that life in the womb matters.”

Palmetto Family President Dave Wilson issued a statement in reaction to the ruling,

“The 6-3 decision returns responsibility for abortion laws back to the states after it was stripped from their hands nearly 50 years ago. This will be the most monumental decision of our lifetime, bringing full recognition to the constitutional boundaries the framers established to ensure that states like South Carolina can and will be safe havens for LIFE.”

House Speaker Murrell Smith wrote:

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