Monthly Archives: April 2016

SC Personhood Amendment – No Special Order Votes Taken, No Motion Period in Senate April 19; Next Regular Session April 21

Published by:

Christians for Personhood ( CP )
Columbia, South Carolina
April 19, 2016

SC Personhood Amendment – No Special Order Votes Taken, No Motion Period in Senate April 19; Next Regular Session April 21

Will Senators (27 R, 18 D) set S.719 for Special Order Thursday, April 21, 2016 ?

– We need to Poll Senators for Commitment to Vote for Special Order for S.719

________________________
________________________

1) The SC Senate adjourned in less than 1 1/2 hours today without even entering the Motion Period on the Senate Calendar for April 19.  So no votes for Special Order were taken; neither for H.3189, nor S.719.

2) Tomorrow, April 20  is only any ‘perfunctory’ Session as per the motion of Senate President Pro-Tempore, 35-year incumbent Senator Hugh Leatherman ( R – Darlington, Florence ), who invoked a special Rule of the Senate ( Rule 1B, p. 206 ) authorizing the President Pro-Tempore to do so.  Note: The invoking of the Rule was actually out of order because the Rule requires the motion be made “at least two (2) days prior” to it taking effect.  However no Senator challenged the Rule violation, and so the motion was approved by the Senate.

Tuesday, April 19, 2016 – 12:00 pm
State House, Senate Chamber
http://www.scstatehouse.gov/video/videofeed.php
Video – 1:23:29

3) So the next full Session of the Senate is Thursday, April 20, meeting at 11AM.  We have until then to lobby and poll Senators for their commitment to vote for Special Order for S.719.  Senator Bright says we need to make a list of those who will vote for Special Order for S.719.  Senator Bryant says we should start with supporters of S.719 SC Personhood Constitutional Amendment, of which there are 15.  There are 12 Senate co-sponsors of S.719, plus three other Senators who have signed the S.719 pledge only.

Sponsors of S.719: Senators Lee Bright*, Ronnie Cromer*, Kevin Bryant*, Shane Martin, Ross Turner, Mike Fair*, Katrina Shealy*, Larry Grooms, Shane Massey, Danny Verdin*, Tom Young and Tom Davis
[ Note: Senators with asterisk ( * ) also signed S.719 Pledge ]

Senators who have signed S.719 Pledge but have not co-sponsored: Senators Tom Corbin, Greg Gregory, Wes Hayes

Contact information for all SC Senators is here:  http://www.scstatehouse.gov/member.php?chamber=S

Of this list, Senator Bright and Senator Bryant can be counted as having already made their commitment to support S.719 for Special Order.  Please help contact, lobby, and poll the remainder of this list of 15 Senators, asking them:

– To please agree to vote to set S.719 SC Personhood Constitutional Amendment for Special Order on Thursday, April 21st and thereafter, to move forward the effort to put  S.719 on the ballot in the November 8, 2016 General Election and let the people of South Carolina have the opportunity to vote on what is in our own State Constitution !

– And if they cannot vote ‘Yes’ to set S.719 for Special Order, then ask them to at least not vote against setting S.719 for Special Order, and to please abstain.

4) If you contact or receive an answer back from any of these 15 Senators above regarding the answer to whether they will agree to vote to set S.719 for Special Order on Thursday, April 21st and thereafter; or if not, will they at least abstain, please e-mail their response to CP@spiritcom.net as soon as possible.
Thank you !

__________________________
__________________________

Greenville News ( Greenville, SC )

Bryant: personhood bill may be pushed over transgender bill
http://www.greenvilleonline.com/story/news/politics/2016/04/18/bryant-personhood-bill-may-pushed-over-transgender-bill/83188538/
April 19, 2016

COLUMBIA ­ The Upstate chairman of the committee that could take up a bill regulating the transgender use of public bathrooms says while he still thinks the bill can pass, he is more interested in having the Senate debate a bill giving rights to the unborn.

Sen. Kevin Bryant of Anderson, chairman of the Senate General Committee, told The Greenville News on Monday he is prepared to move the transgender bill out of committee and onto the Senate calendar but knows whether the bill moves as the result of a vote at a committee meeting or polling committee members without a meeting, it still will draw a procedural objection by opponents that will require a vote of the Senate for the measure to be heard.

Given the choice between focusing his efforts on persuading the Senate to take up the transgender bill or a bill establishing legal rights for the unborn beginning at conception, also known as the “personhood” bill, Bryant said he would prefer to focus on the personhood bill.

“My personal priority is the personhood constitutional amendment,” Bryant said.  “I would like to see the bathroom bill pass this year. Personhood would be the priority for me.”

continued…
http://www.greenvilleonline.com/story/news/politics/2016/04/18/bryant-personhood-bill-may-pushed-over-transgender-bill/83188538/

__________________________
__________________________

“The king’s heart is in the Hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water:
He turneth it whithersoever He will.”
Proverb 21:1, KJV ( with deity capitalized )

“… with God all things are possible.”  Matthew 19:26, KJV

Praise the Lord“For with God nothing shall be impossible.”  Luke 1:37, KJV

In Christ,

Steve Lefemine
Christians for Personhood

PO Box 12222
Columbia, SC 29211

SC Personhood Amendment – Day of Decision for Special Order in SC Senate – Tuesday, April 19, 2016 ?

Published by:

Christians for Personhood ( CP )
Columbia, South Carolina
April 17, 2016

SC Personhood AmendmentDay of Decision for Special Order in SC Senate

– Tuesday, April 19, 2016 ?

Which Bill will SC Senators (27 R, 18 D) set for Special Order: H.3189 or S.719 ?

______________________
______________________

It appears likely Senate President Pro-Tempore, 35-year incumbent Senator Hugh Leatherman (Darlington, Florence) will once again move for H.3189 to be set for Special Order, which if passed by a 2/3 Senate vote, would take the one slot presently open for Special Order, during the Motion Period on Tuesday,  April 19.  It is important this Motion be defeated once again.  It was defeated on Thursday, April 14 by just one vote.

Instead of giving away the one open Special Order slot to H.3189, we pray a Special Order vote for S.719 SC Personhood Constitutional Amendment will be taken, and will succeed on Tuesday, April 19.

So please call and e-mail the Republican and Democrat Senators further below, as many as you are willing, by NLT Tuesday morning, April 19 when the Republican Senate Caucus meets at 11AM prior to the 12 noon Session in the Senate chamber, saying to them words to this effect:

“Please vote to give the open Special Order slot to S.719, and please do not vote to give the open Special Order slot to H.3189.  The vote for Special Order for S719 is being counted as a vote for or against the Personhood Constitutional Amendment.  Let the People of South Carolina vote on the ballot November 8, 2016 .”

_________________________
_________________________

These 10 Republican Senators below voted on Thursday, April 14 to give H.3189 (‘campaign funding’/’ethics’, third party/so-called ‘dark money’ bill) the one open Special Order slot, which would have boxed out S.719 SC Personhood Constitutional Amendment from getting an opportunity to receive a vote for Special Order. Thankfully that H.3189 Special Order vote was defeated on Thursday, April 14, but by just one vote, and the proponents of Special Order for H.3189 intend to try again.  Their attempt may very well be Tuesday, April 19.

The 10 Republican Senators who voted to give away the one open Special Order slot to H.3189 (not S.719) on Thursday, April 14 were:

1) Thomas C. Alexander – District 1 – Oconee & Pickens Counties – Map

2) Paul G. Campbell, Jr. – District 44 – Berkeley, Charleston & Dorchester Counties – Map

3) Raymond E. Cleary, III – District 34 – Charleston, Georgetown & Horry Counties – Map

4) Ronnie W. Cromer – District 18 – Lexington, Newberry & Union Counties – Map
[ Senator Cromer is a co-sponsor of S.719 and has signed the S.719 pledge ]

5) Robert W. Hayes, Jr. – District 15 – York County – Map
[ Senator Hayes has signed the S.719 pledge ]

6) Hugh K. Leatherman, Sr. – District 31 – Darlington & Florence Counties – Map

7) Larry A. Martin – District 2 – Pickens County – Map

8) Luke A. Rankin – District 33 – Horry County – Map

9) Paul Thurmond – District 41 – Charleston & Dorchester Counties – Map

10) Tom Young, Jr. – District 24 – Aiken County – Map
[ Senator Young is a co-sponsor of S.719 ]

Contact information for all SC Senators is here:  http://www.scstatehouse.gov/member.php?chamber=S

_________________________
_________________________

“The king’s heart is in the Hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water:
He turneth it whithersoever He will.”
Proverb 21:1, KJV ( with deity capitalized )

“… with God all things are possible.”  Matthew 19:26, KJV

Praise the Lord“For with God nothing shall be impossible.”  Luke 1:37, KJV

In Christ,

Steve Lefemine
Christians for Personhood

PO Box 12222
Columbia, SC 29211

SC Personhood Amendment – Surprise Senate Vote to give open Special Order slot to H.3189 (not S.719) on Thursday, April 14 failed 2/3 required by just ONE vote, 28-16 !

Published by:

Christians for Personhood ( CP )
Columbia, South Carolina
April 16, 2016

SC Personhood Amendment – Surprise Senate Vote to give open Special Order slot to H.3189 (not S.719) on Thursday, April 14 failed 2/3 required by just ONE vote, 28-16 !

__________________
__________________

10 Republicans* joined by all 18 Democrats voted for Special Order for H.3189 April 14.

Thankfully, 28 was at least ONE vote short of the 29 required 2/3 super majority (29 of 44 Senators present and voting), because 16 Republicans voted against this surprise Motion for Special Order for H.3189 by Senate President Pro-Tempore, 35-year incumbent Senator Hugh Leatherman (Darlington, Florence).

Thanks be to God !
______________________

* The 10 Republican Senators who voted to give away the one open Special Order slo to H.3189 (not S.719) on Thursday, April 14 were:

1) Thomas C. Alexndera – District 1 – Oconee & Pickens Counties – Map

2) Paul G. Campbell, Jr. – District 44 – Berkeley, Charleston & Dorchester Counties – Map

3) Raymond E. Cleary, III – District 34 – Charleston, Georgetown & Horry Counties – Map

4) Ronnie W. Cromer – District 18 – Lexington, Newberry & Union Counties – Map
[ Senator Cromer is a co-sponsor of S.719 and has signed the S.719 pledge ]

5) Robert W. Hayes, Jr. – District 15 – York County – Map
[ Senator Hayes has signed the S.719 pledge ]

6) Hugh K. Leatherman, Sr. – District 31 – Darlington & Florence Counties – Map

7) Larry A. Martin – District 2 – Pickens County – Map

8) Luke A. Rankin – District 33 – Horry County – Map

9) Paul Thurmond – District 41 – Charleston & Dorchester Counties – Map

10) Tom Young, Jr. – District 24 – Aiken County – Map
[ Senator Young is a co-sponsor of S.719 ]

Contact information for all SC Senators is here:  http://www.scstatehouse.gov/member.php?chamber=S

______________________
______________________

Strategy and Action going forward through this Tuesday, April 19:

1) Born-again Christians, PrayThank God for His sovereign intervention Thursday afternoon, April 14, defeating the surprise Motion for Special Order for H.3189Thank God for using the 16 Republican Senators who voted against Senator Leatherman’s Motion.  Pray God would turn the hearts (Proverb 21:1, KJV) of especially the three Republican Senators who are S.719 co-sponsors and/or pledgers (Cromer, Hayes, Young), but who voted to give away the open Special Order slot to H.3189.

2) The Senators supporting Special Order for H.3189 are planning to try again next week; it is possible another Special Order vote for H.3189 could be taken as early as Tues., April 19.

[ Notice at the end of the Senate Journal for April 14, right after the Special Order vote for H.3189, the record of remarks made by Senator Joel Lourie (D), Senator Hugh Leatherman (R), and Senator Larry Martin (R) noted in the Senate Journal as “Expression of Personal Interest”.  These were essentially pleas/challenges/reproofs for not setting H.3189 for Special Order in the 28 – 16 vote just taken, and exhortations to do so in the future.  The archived videotape of the April 14 Senate Session is located here [ click on Thursday, April 14, 2016  11:00 am Senate, begin at videotape time 1:15:10 ].  Note that embedded within these Senators’ remarks are also remarks by other Senators who also supported Special Order for H.3189 – Senator Paul Thurmond (R), Senator Luke Rankin (R)  [ Luke Rankin welcomed Larry Martin to the “Gang of 28” ], and Senator Vincent Sheheen (D).  Senator Larry Martin (R) is facing three Republican Primary opponents June 14, and he wishes to see the so-called  “dark money” bill H.3189 passed, to take effect in the future after 2016.  Senator Larry Martin (R) began his remarks ( begin at videotape time 1:23:00 ) with these words: “… I don’t think anybody in here has had a bigger target on their back regarding the expenditure of third party money, than I have.”  Realize therefore the significance of this “campaign funding/ethics” bill H.3189 in the mind of 23-year incumbent Senator Larry Martin, in the future after 2016.  During Larry Martin’s remarks, fellow H.3189 supporter, Democrat Senator Vincent Sheheen even “humorously” offered to come up to Pickens County to endorse Larry Martin’s opponent (the thinking being that endorsement of the opponent(s) by a Democrat would hurt the opponent in that opponent’s run as a Republican, thus helping incumbent Larry Martin).

3) Instead, we pray a Special Order vote for S.719 will be taken and will succeed on Tues., April 19. So please call and e-mail the Republican and Democrat Senators further below, as many as you are willing, by NLT Tuesday morning, April 19 when the Republican Senate Caucus meets at 11AM prior to the 12 noon Session in the Senate chamber, saying to them words to this effect:

“Please vote to give the open Special Order slot to S.719, and please do not vote to give the open Special Order slot to H.3189.  The vote for Special Order for S719 is being counted as a vote for or against the Personhood Constitutional Amendment.  Let the People of South Carolina vote on the ballot November 8, 2016 .”

[ Notice also at the very end of the Senate Journal for April 14, after the “Expression of Personal Interest” by Senator Larry Martin, is one more “Expression of Personal Interest” by Personhood Amendment supporter Senator Kevin Bryant (R).  Senator Bryant’s remarks included these welcome words: “… I did vote No on Special Order for a couple reasons.  One reason is …  Another reason is, we’ve got a bill, S719, called Personhood Bill, and if we can save lives of the unborn, I would much rather save lives of the unborn than some of our re-elections.”  The archived videotape of the April 14 Senate Session is located here [ click on  Thursday, April 14, 2016  11:00 am Senate, begin at videotape time 1:34:15 ].

[ Members of the SC Senatehttp://www.scstatehouse.gov/member.php?chamber=S ]

____________________
____________________

Please Call and E-mail as you are willing to the South Carolina Senators below.

Recommend you call each Senator’s Gressette Building phone number first; then if you are willing to send an e-mail, that can be done two different ways: 1) Go to the webpage of each individual Senator ( click on links below, or go to www.scstatehouse.gov, click on “Senators” and then on each individual Senator’s name ), and on the individual Senator’s webpage, click on, “Send message to Senator ________” ), fill out and “Send” the e-mail, or 2) use the e-mail addresses below.  If you want to go another step, call the other numbers which the Senator has listed in their biographical information on their Senate webpage, such as home and/or business number(s).  This last option is probably the best if you wish to try to speak personally with the Senator yourself.  If you have the opportunity to do so,
leave messages on any voicemail.

When you call / e-mail any of these Senators, please say to them words to this effect:

“Please vote to give the open Special Order slot to S.719, and please do not vote to give the open Special Order slot to H.3189.  The vote for Special Order for S719 is being counted as a vote for or against the Personhood Constitutional Amendment.  Let the People of South Carolina vote on the ballot November 8, 2016 .”

1) Please first contact these three Republican Senators who are S.719 co-sponsors and/or pledgers, but who voted among the 10 Republicans to give H.3189 Special Order on Thursday, April 14:

Ronnie W. Cromer E-mail: RonnieCromer@scsenate.gov

Robert W. Hayes, Jr. – E-mail: RobertHayes@scsenate.gov

Tom Young, Jr. – E-mail: TomYoung@scsenate.gov

2) Please next contact your own Senator, Republican or Democrat:

[ Members of the SC Senatehttp://www.scstatehouse.gov/member.php?chamber=S ]

3) Then next contact these other seven Republican Senators who voted among the 10 Republicans to give H.3189 Special Order on Thursday, April 14:

Thomas C. Alexander – E-mail: ThomasAlexander@scsenate.gov

Paul G. Campbell, Jr. – E-mail: PaulCampbell@scsenate.gov

Raymond E. Cleary, III – E-mail – RayCleary@scsenate.gov

Hugh K. Leatherman, Sr. – E-mail: HKL@scsenate.gov

Larry A. Martin – E-mail: LarryMartin@scsenate.gov

Luke A. Rankin – E-mail: LukeRankin@scsenate.gov

Paul Thurmond – E-mail: PaulThurmond@scsenate.gov

4) Then next contact these five Republican Senators who voted on the right side with the 16 Republicans who voted against giving H.3189 Special Order on Thursday, April 14, but who are presently neither co-sponsors, nor pledgers in support of S.719:

Sean Bennett – E-mail: SeanBennett@scsenate.gov

George E. “Chip” Campsen, III – E-mail – ChipCampsen@scsenate.gov

John E. Courson – E-mail: JohnCourson@scsenate.gov

Greg Hembree – E-mail: GregHembree@scsenate.gov

Harvey S. Peeler, Jr. – E-mail: HarveyPeeler@scsenate.gov

5) Then next contact these three Democrat Senators who have co-sponsored Personhood Bill in the past, and who once voted in support of a Personhood Bill Recall from Committee:

Darrell Jackson – E-mail: DarrellJackson@scsenate.gov

Glenn Reese – E-mail: GlennReese@scsenate.gov

Kent Williams – E-mail: KentWilliams@scsenate.gov

6) Then next contact this Democrat Senator who abstained from voting against S.71 in the full Judiicary Committee vote on April 12, 2016:

J. Thomas McElveen, III – E-mail: ThomasMcElveen@scsenate.gov

[ Note: A vote tally for the April 12, 2016 Senate Judiciary Committee vote on favorable passage of S .719 received  from the Senate Judiciary Committee staff is reporting Senator Karl Allen (D) and Senator Gerald Malloy (D) also voted against S.719.  If this is accurate, the April 12 vote would be 11 – 7, not 11 – 5. ]

7) Then next contact these 12 Republican Senators who are co-sponsors and/or pledgers in support of S719, and who were among the 16 Republican Senators who voted correctly against Special Order for H3189 on April 14 ( except Shane Martin who was on leave from the Senate), if you would like to thank and encourage them to stand in the battle which is expected next week:

Lee Bright – E-mail: LeeBright@scsenate.gov

Kevin L. Bryant – E-mail: KevinBryant@scsenate.gov

Thomas D. “Tom” Corbin – E-mail: TomCorbin@scsenate.gov

Tom Davis – E-mail: TomDavis@scsenate.gov

Michael L. Fair – E-mail: MikeFair@scsenate.gov

Chauncey K. Gregory – E-mail: GregGregory@scsenate.gov

Lawrence K. “Larry” Grooms – E-mail: LarryGrooms@scsenate.gov

Shane R. Martin – E-mail: ShaneMartin@scsenate.gov

A. Shane Massey – E-mail: ShaneMassey@scsenate.gov

Katrina Frye Shealy – E-mail: KatrinaShealy@scsenate.gov

Ross Turner – E-mail: RossTurner@scsenate.gov

Daniel B. “Danny” Verdin, III – E-mail: DanielVerdin@scsenate.gov

8) Finally contact the remaining 14 Democrat Senators:

Contact information for all SC Senators is here:  http://www.scstatehouse.gov/member.php?chamber=S

_________________
_________________

“The king’s heart is in the Hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water:
He turneth it whithersoever He will.”
Proverb 21:1, KJV ( with deity capitalized )

“… with God all things are possible.”  Matthew 19:26, KJV

In Christ,

Steve Lefemine
Christians for Personhood

PO Box 12222
Columbia, SC 29211

SC Personhood Amendment – Now S.719 Needs ‘Special Order’ Status, which requires 2/3 Senate vote

Published by:

Christians for Personhood ( CP )
Columbia, South Carolina
April 14, 2016

SC Personhood Amendment – Reported to full SC Senate April 13, 2016;

Placed on full Senate Calendar April 14, 2016 – but S.719 is the 57th bill listed under ‘Statewide Second Reading Bills’.

Now S.719 Needs ‘Special Order’ Status, which requires 2/3 Senate vote

________________________

The good news is that for the first time, S.719 is on the Senate Calendar.  The bad news is that:

1) S.719 is contested by two pro-‘abortion’ Senators ( Hutto , Bright Matthews ), and;

2) S.719 is the 57th bill listed on the Senate Calendar under ‘Statewide Second Reading Bills’.

The remedy for this challenging situation is to lobby the SC Senators to give S.719 what is known as ‘Special Order’, which moves it up to the front of the calendar.  It takes a 2/3 vote of Senators present and voting to be given Special Order.  If all 45 Senators are present ( 27 R, 18 D ), that means 30 votes are required.  If one or more Senators are absent or decide to abstain, that would lower the number of votes needed to attain the 2/3 threshold.

Since the there are 27 members of the Republican Caucus in the SC Senate, they have great influence over what bills are given Special Order when they vote as a consensus block.  There are only three ‘Special Order’ slots available on the calendar, however at least one is known to be open right now at the present time.  We want the 27 Senate Republicans to first agree within the Republican Senate Caucus, and then quickly vote on the Senate floor, to give S.719 SC Personhood Constitutional Amendment ‘Special Order’.

Next Tuesday,  April 19, at  11AM,  the  Republican Senate Caucus meets in Room 209, Gressette Senate Building, and will likely consider the matter of what bill to give the one known open ‘Special Order’ slot.  So we have between now and then to call and e-mail the 27 Senate Republicans urging them to agree to give S.719 ‘Special Order’ status when they meet April 19, and then to quickly actually move and vote to do so on the floor of the SC Senate.

There are in fact competing bills which various parties wish to obtain ‘Special Order’.

We need to bring a Christian witness of advocacy for giving S.719 SC Personhood Constitutional Amendment ‘Special Order’ between now and next Tuesday to:

1) The new Senate Majority ( Republican ) Leader, Senator Shane Massey ( R – Aiken, Edgefield, Lexington, McCormick & Saluda ) and;

2) The rest of the Republican Senators statewide in SC ( 27 Republicans total in SC Senate ).

___________________

Contact information for all SC Senators is here: 
http://www.scstatehouse.gov/member.php?chamber=S

You may call BOTH the Republican Senators’ Gressette Building phone number and their home/business phone numbers, whatever numbers the Senator has listed in his/her contact information.

You may also e-mail them through the SC Legislature website.  E-mail pages are also available for each Senator individually here.

Please ask the Republican Senators words to this effect:

          “In the next Republican Senate Caucus meeting April 19, please advocate giving the open ‘Special Order’ slot to S.719 SC Personhood Constitutional Amendment , and then voting  ‘Special Order’ for S.719 quickly on the Senate floor.”

___________________________

Republican Members of the SC Senate
(Quick Find)

Thomas C. Alexander

Sean Bennett

Lee Bright

Kevin L. Bryant

Paul G. Campbell, Jr.

George E. “Chip” Campsen, III

Raymond E. Cleary, III

Thomas D. “Tom” Corbin

John E. Courson

Ronnie W. Cromer

Tom Davis

Michael L. Fair

Chauncey K. Gregory

Lawrence K. “Larry” Grooms

Robert W. Hayes, Jr.

Greg Hembree

Hugh K. Leatherman, Sr.

Larry A. Martin

Shane R. Martin

A. Shane Massey

Harvey S. Peeler, Jr.

Luke A. Rankin

Katrina Frye Shealy

Paul Thurmond

Ross Turner

Daniel B. “Danny” Verdin, III

Tom Young, Jr.

GLORY TO GOD ! SC Personhood Amendment passed favorably on 11 – 5 vote by SC Senate Judiciary Committee – April 12, 2016

Published by:

Christians for Personhood ( CP )
Columbia, South Carolina
April 12, 2016 / Edited April 13, 2016

GLORY TO GOD !

SC Personhood Amendment passed favorably on 11 – 5 vote by SC Senate Judiciary Committee – April 12, 2016 ( Audio )  

“… with God all things are possible.”  Matthew 19:26, KJV

____________________
____________________

The SC Personhood Constitutional Amendment S.719 has favorably passed the SC Senate Judiciary Committee ( 13 R, 9 D ) by a vote of 11 – 5 on April 12, 2016.

Praise the Lord“For with God nothing shall be impossible.”  Luke 1:37, KJV

S.719 SC Personhood Constitutional Amendment sponsor, Senator Lee Bright ( R-Greenville, Spartanburg ) did a commendable job explaining S.719, and defending S.719 in response to questions by one Republican Senator and several Democrat Senators ( audio posted here ).  Senator Bright’s diligence in his remarks to repeatedly
 return the focus of the discussion to the purpose of the constitutional amendment in establishing personhood and due process for unborn children was excellent, admirable, and vital.


Notes: 1) Archived video of entire April 12 Senate Judiciary Committee meeting including the S.719 debate and 11 – 5 vote is posted here on the SC Legislature website.

             2) Regarding Senator Bright’s explanations of the technical Amendment; the original version of S.719 as introduced on April 28, 2015 only addressed the right to life and not property rights. 
Likewise, the statutory bill ‘Personhood Act of South Carolina’ S.457 considered during two Senate Judiciary Subcommittee public hearings in 2014, also only addressed the right to life and not property rights.

cp1

Click image for larger view.

  _____________________________
_____________________________

Photo below:  SC Senate Judiciary Committee Senators voting for favorable passage of S.719 ( 11 votes )



Voting Yes to favorable passage of S.719 ( 11 votes ) ( listing from front row to back, left to right )
Front row:  Senator Tom Young ( R )
Second row:  Senators Tom Corbin ( R ), Greg Gregory ( R ), Sean Bennett ( R ), Greg Hembree ( R ), Katrina Shealy ( R )
Back row:  Senators Lee Bright ( R ),  Luke Rankin ( R ), Larry Martin ( R ), Shane Massey ( R )
One proxy vote:  Senator Ross Turner ( R )

_______________________
_______________________


Photo below:  SC Senate Judiciary Committee vote against favorable passage of S.719 ( 5 votes )

cp2

Click image for larger view.



Voting No to favorable passage of S.719 ( 5 votes ) ( listing from front row to back, left to right )
Front row:  Senators Ronnie Sabb ( D ), Margie Bright Matthews ( D )
Second row:  Senator Kevin Johnson ( D )
Back row:  Senators Creighton Coleman ( D ), Brad Hutto ( D )

_____________________________
_____________________________


This is both the first time the SC Senate Judiciary Committee has ever taken up Personhood legislation for debate, and so of course also the first time that it has passed the full Judiciary Committee.  When S.719 passed a Judiciary Subcommmittee chaired by S.719 primary sponsor, Senator Lee Bright ( R-Greenville, Spartanburg ) on March 17, that was the first time Personhood legislation had been favorably passed by a Senate Judiciary Subcommittee.

Now S.719 will actually be placed on the Calendar of the full South Carolina Senate.

However because 1) the legislation is contested by some pro-“abortion” Senators, and 2) because there is a May 1st deadline under regular procedures for legislation to crossover from one chamber to another, time is of the essence.  S.719 will need to be voted by the SC Senate to be given “Special Order”.  It takes 2/3 of the Senators present and voting for a bill to be given Special Order.

This report is an initial report.  Lord willing, future reporting will have more information and detail, including archived video which should be posted here of today’s entire April 12 Senate Judiciary Committee meeting including the S.719 debate and 11 – 5 vote on the SC Legislature website.

However, the immediate main points going forward are that:

     1) May 1st is the deadline for passage of S.719 by the SC Senate under regular procedures, and;

     2) The next goal is to lobby all 45 SC Senators ( 27 Republican, 18 Democrat, 1 vacancy ) for their commitment to support “Special Order” for S.719.  We need a 2/3 vote of those Senators present and voting for S.719  to receive Special Order.

Contact information for all SC Senators is here: 
http://www.scstatehouse.gov/member.php?chamber=S

________________________
________________________

“The king’s heart is in the Hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water:
He turneth it whithersoever He will.”
Proverb 21:1, KJV ( with deity capitalized )

“… with God all things are possible.”  Matthew 19:26, KJV

In Christ,

Steve Lefemine
Christians for Personhood

PO Box 12222
Columbia, SC 29211