What SC women have to look forward to in 2022
If Lynn Teague, the voice for the League of Women Voters of South Carolina in the state legislature, is accurate, the state’s women are in for a rough year.
Many bills we support will likely die of benign neglect, while an array of anti-woman legislation will rise above obstacles like factual errors, misinformation, and just plain “awfulness” to become law.
As we look forward to the 47th anniversary of the UN recognition of International Women’s Day on March 8, we sat down with Lynn to get her perspective on what 2022 will mean to the state’s women.
Women’s Reproductive Health
There are no fewer than 11 different bills addressing some aspect of women’s reproductive health. While many of those bills have little chance of passage, what is introduced is always important because it is a window into the souls of our elected officials. And in SC, it’s pretty scary in there this year.
SB 988 is just such a bill. This is a personhood bill but “it’s not sufficient to define personhood at conception or implantation,” Lynn says. In this bill, they define personhood as a fertilized egg. If approved, “a whole lot of contraception would be illegal and in vitro fertilization would be illegal.” Potentially the bill could lead to criminalizing miscarriage. Lynn, who has testified against this bill, says “doctors are testifying that this would make them unwilling to perform IVF. It’s just too risky.”
988 is just one in a smorgasbord of bills that are part of a “back to 1950 movement at the State House.
“We have a part of the population that does not want to live in the 21st century, that strongly prefers the racial and gender relationships that prevailed in 1950 over those that prevail today,” she explains. “And they want to push us back. From abortion bills, to CRT (Critical Race Theory), to attempts to restrict voting, it's all part and parcel of the same reactionary movement.”
Despite that, Lynn believes there is not an appetite in the State Senate for a personhood bill, even among legislators who voted for the 6-week ban last year. “We hope we can defeat 988,” she says.
Also on the table is SB 907, a bill that requires doctors and prescribers to give patients who request the 'medication abortion' (a two-pill regimen taken over two days) false information about the ability to reverse the impact of the initial dose.
“The state should not be in the business of telling doctors to give their patients false information,” Lynn states, noting that “there is no peer-reviewed, systematic-controlled study to show that you can reverse a medical abortion after taking the first pills.”
This bill’s future is uncertain.
There are several more that Lynn describes as “horrible” or “nasty.” And also a few that would be affirmative for women — like HB 3175 that would permit pharmacists to prescribe birth control, making it more accessible to many women across the state; and HB 3747/SB 574 which would remove the sales tax from menstrual products. The latter is languishing and has few sponsors - two signs, Lynn notes, that passage is challenging.
Overall, Lynn sees this year’s crop of reproductive health bills as clearly illustrating their “preference that women not have choices in general. That’s where all this is coming from.”
Economic
In 1960, President John F. Kennedy signed the Equal Pay Act making equality the law of the land. 62 years later, it is still an unfulfilled promise. And so, despite the fact that 67 percent of South Carolinians make less than $50K, it will likely remain unfulfilled in South Carolina in 2022.
Lynn sees little likelihood that HB 3183, 3188, or SB 514 - all pay equity bills - will pass this session. Some of these bills, including HB 3183 and SB 514, have attracted bipartisan sponsorship, which should have encouraged their passage. However, they have stalled.
“Some in the State House deify business,” she says. “Combine that with the fact that many (legislators) don’t believe women should actually be working or, if they are, they should be content with what they’re getting. They are generally unsympathetic.”
Another workplace bill – HB 3469 – would provide structure for paid sick leave. Two others – HB 3560 and SB 11– would provide state employees with 12 weeks of paid family leave. These bills do not appear to be moving rapidly toward passage, according to Lynn. HB 3560 is the most promising, having passed the House. But it has not been heard in the Senate, after being assigned to the Committee on Finance.
Effective, accountable government
Ratifying the Equal Rights Amendment (HB 3258) falls under that same umbrella. Ratification is a complicated issue, Lynn explains. Although enough states have ratified the ERA, several have rescinded their approval, and there are timing issues that call into question the validity of the amendment. She believes – and quotes late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg – that ERA proponents need to start over again. “It’s certainly dead this year in South Carolina.”
What is thriving in South Carolina and the rest of the Southern or Conservative states is the idea of a federal Constitutional Convention (HB 3205, SB 33). There are multiple bills that focus on different purposes for such a convention, but what it comes down to is restraining federal authority.
“There are two continuing themes in South Carolina’s history,” Lynn notes, “one is race and the other is (complaining) about the federal government, royal government, and, before that, the Lord Proprietors.”
So far, 17 states have passed bills calling for a Constitutional Convention with another eight, including SC, having advanced the bill through one chamber. Another 21 have bills under consideration. Thirty-four states are required. Lynn has testified several times against these bills focusing on strong Constitutional arguments. But more viscerally, she insists, “this is too big a risk.”
“We don't want to throw a lit match into a pile of gasoline-soaked rags that is our national politics right now.”
There are also affirmative bills for women such as Medicaid Expansion, a bill to end the practice of paying below minimum wage to persons with disabilities, and legislation to study disparities in Black maternal health.
Lynn admits that in many of these cases, she must leave the heavy lifting to partner organizations such as WREN, which is “doing great work.” LWVSC can lend support, inform our members and encourage member constituent action, and allow the use of our logo to show our support on materials, she says, but there’s just not enough time for everything.
“I feel bad that I spend so much of my time fighting the bad ones that I don’t have enough time to fight for the good ones,” she concludes.
What can we do?
- Bookmark the state League’s Legislative Advocacy page where you can find information on our positions on state bills and copies of Lynn’s testimony. These are treasure troves of talking points for when you call your legislators.
- Create more public education programs around important issues.
- Have public meetings; don’t just preach to the choir.
- League members under their own name should submit op-eds to newspapers on bills and issues. Again, check out the testimony for fodder for those articles.
- Write to your legislators even there’s not an immediate bill and let them know how you feel about how your issues are being handled in the Legislature.
- Take every opportunity in print, in person, and on social media to counter the misinformation.
“What you're supposed to do when you don't like a thing is change it. If you can't change it, change the way you think about it. Don't complain.” ~Maya Angelou
