'Equal Protection at Conception' Act would ban almost all abortions in South Carolina: Wednesday, June 29

A new bill introduced in the South Carolina Senate seeks to ban abortions with few exceptions, going even further than the new Fetal Heartbeat Act that took effect Monday.

The "Equal Protection at Conception - No Exceptions" act would outlaw abortions at any stage of pregnancy unless the mother's life is at risk. It was introduced by Sen. Richard Cash of Anderson County, as some state lawmakers consider even stricter limits on abortion in South Carolina.

Protesters flooded the State House Tuesday to voice their opposition to the Fetal Heartbeat Act, which outlaws most abortions to six weeks, before most women even realize they're pregnant.

South Carolina previously allowed abortions from 20 weeks of pregnancy before the law, previously blocked by a federal court, took effect Monday. The law does allow exceptions due to rape and incest if the fetus is less than 20 weeks along, and in cases to save the mother's life.

READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/politics/south-carolina-fetal-heartbeat-abortion-ban-protest-columbia-roe-v-wade-overturned/275-0dbf4d51-9020-4db2-9308-273379ba9f38

Legal advocates in Mecklenburg County are pushing for the state to expand Medicaid sooner, rather than later.

Douglas Sea, senior attorney and senior program manager at the Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy, said there’s currently a coverage gap in North Carolina that leaves thousands without access to health insurance. He says it's because their income is too high to qualify for Medicaid, but too low for coverage through the federal Health Insurance Marketplace.

Sea said expanding Medicaid in the state would add about 600,000 people to the health care program who don’t have access to coverage.

READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/health/medicaid-expansion-north-carolina-health-law-politics-news-regional-state/275-8e9cbdff-efea-4d55-a4c8-2b738c5212af

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