South Carolina Statehouse Blog

REP. REX RICE: NO STATE FUNDS SHOULD PAY FOR ABORTIONS

State Rep. Introduces Legislation to Stop the State Health Plan from Covering Abortions

COLUMBIA, SC – State Representative Rex Rice (R-Pickens) released the following statement regarding his budget provision to prohibit the state health plan from covering abortions.

“The state of South Carolina should not be paying for abortions. In cases where a pregnancy was not planned by the parents, I still feel very strongly that God has a distinct plan and purpose for each and every life. Our tax dollars should not be responsible for interfering with that plan.

This is a battle I lost last year on the floor of the State House and one I felt was too important not to bring up again. I have been a strong advocate of pro-life measures during my 15 years in Columbia and I want to be sure that I have no regrets when I leave the General Assembly later this year.

I think that many South Carolinians are unaware that the state insurance plan currently pays for abortions of any kind and this measure calls attention to an issue that I feel must be corrected.

Plain and simple, the state health insurance program should not cover abortions under any circumstance. The state of South Carolina should not intervene on God’s missions and our state funds should not cover abortions of any kind.”

Rice, a small businessman, has represented parts of Pickens and Greenville Counties for the past fifteen years in the State House.