News Summary
House Majority Leader Davey Hiott has resigned from the House Family Caucus after a fallout with caucus chairman John McCravy. His resignation follows accusations of hindering the abortion bill known as the ‘Human Life Protection Act’. The tensions highlight a growing divide within the Republican party as anti-abortion groups increase pressure for the bill’s passage. The resignation occurs as the South Carolina legislature approaches its session end with ongoing debates regarding abortion laws and leadership dynamics affecting legislative priorities.
Columbia, SC – House Majority Leader Davey Hiott has resigned from the House Family Caucus following a notable rift with caucus chairman, Republican Rep. John McCravy. The resignation stems from deep philosophical and character differences, with Hiott’s withdrawal highlighted by tensions between Republican leadership and more hardline members of the Family Caucus as the 2025 legislative session approaches its end.
Hiott’s decision to step down follows accusations levied against him via mailers, wherein he was blamed for hindering the progress of an abortion bill supported by McCravy’s aligned group, Students for Life. The legislation in question, known as the “Human Life Protection Act”, seeks to impose a total ban on abortions at any stage of pregnancy, with exceptions only in emergencies. Current South Carolina law permits abortions only up to six weeks of pregnancy.
The conflict has unfolded during the final days of the legislative session, with Hiott contending that House leadership had opted not to address the abortion measure due to the packed legislative agenda for the year. The timing of Hiott’s resignation coincided with heightened pressure from anti-abortion groups, including Personhood SC and Students for Life, who organized rallies at the Statehouse advocating for the bill.
Students for Life engaged in a canvassing campaign aimed at leadership figures, accusing them of failing to align with anti-abortion principles, a move that has drawn considerable criticism for its derogatory tactics. When Hiott requested McCravy to denounce these campaigning techniques, McCravy declined, asserting he lacked the authority to intervene with a private political group’s actions.
The conflict also escalated when accusations emerged against McCravy, alleging that he made antisemitic and homophobic remarks concerning the nomination of state Rep. Weston Newton to lead the House Judiciary Committee. The alleged comments suggested that the inclusion of a gay individual and a Jewish individual in the committee rendered it excessively “woke”. In response, both individuals targeted by McCravy’s remarks deemed them inappropriate and indicative of bigotry.
The broader backdrop to this dispute includes a recent ruling from the South Carolina Supreme Court, which upheld the state’s existing abortion law. Ongoing legal disputes continue to shape the landscape of abortion legislation within the state, with significant social and political implications.
As the current legislative session draws to a close on May 8 at 5 p.m., the future of the controversial abortion legislation remains uncertain amidst the internal conflicts within the legislative body. Hiott’s resignation from the Family Caucus illustrates a growing divide within the party and presents a challenge for Republican leadership as they navigate the contentious issue of abortion in South Carolina.
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Additional Resources
- AP News: South Carolina Abortion Ban
- Wikipedia: Abortion in the United States
- SC Daily Gazette: GOP Leader Calls for Delay on Abortion Ban
- Google Search: South Carolina abortion legislation
- Post and Courier: Doctors Sue over Abortion Ban
- Google Scholar: South Carolina abortion laws
- WLTX: South Carolina Considers New Abortion Law
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Abortion
- Live 5 News: Abortion Ban Under Consideration
- Google News: South Carolina abortion ban
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