(Reuters) – The South Carolina Senate on Thursday night approved a bill tightening an abortion ban that is currently blocked by the state’s highest court, following two days of fierce debate between a clique of extreme anti-abortion Republicans and more moderate lawmakers from both parties.
Republican backers of the bill pared it down after it became clear they lacked the Senate votes to approve a total abortion ban.
The version approved on Thursday further restricts a state law banning abortions after about six weeks of pregnancy, which the state’s Supreme Court blocked in August following a challenge by abortion providers, saying it could conflict with the state’s constitution.
(Reporting by Julia Harte; Editing by Christian Schmollinger)
