South Carolina Sees Major Wins for Pro Life Movement: Abortions down more than 40% since 2023; Supreme Court Rules in Favor of SC defunding Planned Parenthood

 

Written by Tony J. Spain, Palmetto Examiner
July 3, 2025

COLUMBIA, SC—(PE) The pro-life movement is stacking wins in the abortion fight in South Carolina as new data released Tuesday from the South Carolina Department of Health shows the number of South Carolinians getting abortions in the Palmetto State is in major decline since 2023, and the U.S. Supreme court ruled 6-3 in favor of South Carolina to defund Planned Parenthood last Thursday.

The data compiled by SCDHEC from August 2023 through all of 2024 shows the South Carolina Supreme Court’s ruling to uphold the Fetal Heartbeat Act, banning abortions after the sixth week of pregnancy, has led to the number of women getting abortions in the Palmetto State to drop by more than 40 percent.

Overall, there were 8,187 abortions in 2023 vs 3,025 in 2024 for a difference of more than 5,000 fewer abortions.

Of the total abortions carried out in South Carolina in 2024, 84% of them were medication induced (AKA Abortion Pill). Additionally, 27% of abortions were carried out for women between the ages of 20-24 in 2024.

South Carolina allowed abortions up to 20 weeks after pregnancy before the six week ban making it one of the least restrictive states and an abortion destination in the Southeast. After the ruling that was no longer the case.

Data released Tuesday from the Department of Public Health shows a 92% drop in out-of-state residents getting abortions in South Carolina from 2023-2024.

The conservative Christian family advocacy group Palmetto Family Council praised the numbers saying it showed the great effectiveness of the state’s Fetal Heartbeat Law”

“There’s no point in traveling to South Carolina [for an abortion] now  and that’s a positive,” Justin Hall, Palmetto Family Council Communications Director said. “We don’t want to be viewed as a state where I can go and end life of another human legally. We wanted to stop that. We would like to see other states follow that mode, but certainly we’ve cut down on that destination vacation spot.”


Planned Parenthood—among the groups that criticized the ban as prohibiting abortions before the time many women know they are pregnant—said they have had to turn people away and those people are going to North Carolina…

“75% of the people who come to see us have had to be turned away. They want an abortion, they’ve already decided they want an abortion, but we are not able to help them provide the care that we are able to provide because they are too far along,” Vicki Ringer with Planned Parenthood South Atlantic said.

The organization said these restrictions have not ended abortions, just moved them to other states.

“Half of all out-of-state abortions in North Carolina are from South Carolina. So while the abortion ban in South Carolina has been very effective at shutting down care for people here, as we have always said, people will find a way,” Ringer said.

Data from the new DPH report runs through December 2024, with figures from 2025 to be released next summer.

You can view the full 2024 report here.

In another big win for the pro-life movement, last Thursday, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of South Carolina’s decision to defund Planned Parenthood from receiving Medicaid funding.

The ruling supports the state’s move to prevent taxpayer dollars from being allocated to the organization.

You can read the ruling here.

“Seven years ago, we took a stand to protect the sanctity of life and defend South Carolina’s authority and values—and today, we are finally victorious,” South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster wrote on social media. “The legality of my executive order prohibiting taxpayer dollars from being used to fund abortion providers like Planned Parenthood has been affirmed by the highest court in the land.”

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About the Author: 

Tony Spain is a former candidate for Richland County Council 2020 and an award winning former military photographer and journalist while in the Public Affairs Office for the U.S. Army. His photos and writing have been published in numerous publications such as The Commercial News, Danville, Ill.; The Paraglide, Fort Bragg, N.C.; Soldier of Fortune Magazine; The State Newspaper, Columbia, S.C., and more.

He lives in Columbia, S.C.

 

What Say You? Got something you'd like to say? Letter to the Editor (Guest Column), praises, criticism, hate mail, news story tip or just want to say, howdy. Send them to Tony@palmettoexaminer.com

News and Views from Around the Stare: April 13, 2025

 

Columbia: Despite rain and a chance for storms, a large crowd showed up to see National Conservative Talk Show Host Charlie Kirk, Turning Point USA, at the University of South Carolina campus Monday. The event was cut short because of rain, but a great interaction was had with several students who disagreed and agreed with Kirk. 

Pickens County: The South Carolina Forestry Commission announced Tuesday the Table Rock and Persimmon Ridge wildfires are 100 percent contained. More than 10,000 acres were burned in the largest wildfire in South Carolina history.

Lowcountry: The South Carolina Regional Development Alliance reports that the first quarter of 2025 has brought significant growth to South Carolina’s Lowcountry counties. 

SC Supreme Court: South Carolina’s highest court rejected the last major appeal from Mikal Mahdi Monday to spare his life. Mahdi is scheduled to be executed by firing squad on Friday for the ambush killing of an off-duty police officer.

Aiken County: The Masters, pimento cheese, green jackets, and tax breaks? How real estate lobbyists got the Masters exemption, a 14 day a year rental income exemption, into the US Tax Code.

Food and Drink: Charleston: Restaurants worried about profitability with tariffs on wine and that diners may just stay home, which could ruin an already stable wine industry. Not the wine! And yes, I want cheese with my whine!

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What Say You? Got something you'd like to say? Letter to the Editor (Guest Column), praises, criticism, hate mail, news story tip or just want to say, howdy. Send them to Tony@palmettoexaminer.com

State Treasurer Curtis Loftis isn’t going away quietly; files petition with State Supreme Court and announces reelection bid as more than a decade fight continues

 

Written by: Tony J. Spain, Palmetto Examiner
April 11, 2025

COLUMBIA, SC (PE)—South Carolina State Treasurer Curtis Loftis announced his attorneys have filed a petition with the state Supreme Court Thursday to stop a hearing that could remove him from office.

The Senate Finance committee is attempting to remove Loftis from office for “willfully neglected duties” stemming from a $1.8 million accounting error, which only existed on paper and does not involve actual money according to an independent audit.  

The court filing comes after State Senators initiated a rare constitutional process known as “removal on address” and schedules a hearing for April 21. The Senate’s stated procedures for the hearing allow no witnesses to be called, no objections to me made by the parties, and does not even establish requirements for a quorum of members to be present.

“This injunction is about ensuring fairness, transparency, and adherence to the rule of law, said Loftis. “I am asking the Supreme Court to step in and clarify whether the Senate is authorized to overturn a state election using this provision. The people of South Carolina deserve a process that upholds the law and the democratic principles they have entrusted to us.”

In his petition, Loftis cited Article XV of State code as evidence making the argument the constitutional section only applies to “state officers elected by the General Assembly” and “has certainly never been applied to statewide elected officials”

“No statewide elected official has ever been impeached or removed from office under the current State Constitution,” the petition says. “The State constitution clearly establishes a process for impeachment of officials elected on a statewide basis. The House of Representatives alone shall have the power of impeachment in cases of serious crimes or serious misconduct in office.”

“We trust the Supreme Court will provide the guidance needed to resolve this matter justly,” Loftis added. “My focus remains on serving the people of South Carolina and safeguarding their financial interest, as I have done throughout my tenure.”

Loftis has consistently maintained that the Senate’s actions are politically motivated and lack merit and an independent audit determined the bookkeeping errors were within the Comptroller General’s accounting system—not missing funds.

Sen. Larry Grooms, R-Berkley, who chairs the powerful Senate Sub Committee trying to remove Loftis, shares a different sentiment.

“I’m not saying there was a crime. I’m not saying there was a cover-up. But we knew that errors occurred and that the folks responsible for those errors chose not to try to correct them,” Grooms told reporters after a January report from an independent audit found the mistake was the result of an accounting error when the state converted from an old accounting system to a new one, and the Comptroller General’s Office classified entries as cash instead of budget dollars that was not real money. “The state’s books were a mess, but the problem began—and let me make this clear—the problem began in the State Treasurer’s Office.”

Groom’s subcommittee investigated the Comptroller General’s Office in 2023 for a related $3.5 billion accounting error. Legislative scrutiny was able to force Comptroller Richard Eskstrom to resign and the elected position be replaced by an appointment with Brian J. Gaines.

Now Grooms and his committee are on the attack against Loftis calling for his resignation while calling him a “liar” and his actions “treasonous” while under Senate immunity protections from any kind of libel or slander.

Loftis had announced last year his plans to retire and not seek re-election but has changed his mind and decided to fight back against the allegations against him and announced his bid for re-election accusing the Senate subcommittee of running a campaign of lies against him protected by immunity from the Senate floor.

“They have no obligation to tell the truth. They have protection if they slander you. They can libel you and conspire, and there’s nothing you can do about it,” Loftis said in an interview with Will Folks, FitsNews. “I walk into the room; I have to swear to tell the truth the whole truth. They can throw me in jail for perjury.”

This is not the first time Loftis has found himself in the cross hairs. He has been under scrutiny, investigated and threatened to be removed for more than a decade.

Since blowing the whistle in 2013 on the mismanagement of the State pension, they’ve been coming for Loftis. But that hasn't stopped him.  

In 2014, Loftis disclosed that the SC Retirement System Investment Commission was paying hundreds of millions per year in hidden fees to their special interests Wall Street friends, and in 2016 he called out the SC Investment Commission for costing the state $7 billion on bad investments.  

Loftis was first elected in 2010 to the Treasurer’s Office and was looking forward to retirement, but said he now must stay.

“I’m going to run again and I’m going to spend the money to buy ads to tell what’s happening. I can afford it and I’m going to do it,” he told Folks announcing his reelection bid. “I’ve got to stay. I can’t turn my back. I lost both my parents in the last few years and if my dad knew I turned my back when I was needed the most, you know I can’t do that.”

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About the Author:

Tony Spain is a former candidate for Richland County Council 2020 and an award winning former military photographer and journalist while in the Public Affairs Office for the U.S. Army. His photos and writing have been published in numerous publications such as The Commercial News, Danville, Ill.; The Paraglide, Fort Bragg, N.C.; Soldier of Fortune Magazine; The State Newspaper, Columbia, S.C., and more.

He lives in Columbia, S.C.

What Say You? Got something you'd like to say? Letter to the Editor (Guest Column), praises, criticism, hate mail, news story tip or just want to say, howdy. Send them to Tony@palmettoexaminer.com