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
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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.
Click image for larger view.
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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 )
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Photo below: SC Senate Judiciary Committee vote against favorable passage of S.719 ( 5 votes )
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 )
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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
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“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