COLUMBIA, S.C. _ An anti-abortion group says South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster has signed on to its pledge that "personhood" begins at conception.
Personhood South Carolina announced Tuesday that McMaster has agreed to sign a bill that would give the unborn the full legal protections of a person, a move that would effectively overrule the right to an abortion in the state.
Two "personhood" bills were introduced in the South Carolina Legislature last year _ one in the House and one in the Senate _ but neither moved past the committee stage.
Either likely would be challenged in federal court for interfering with abortion rights.
In August, McMaster issued an order stopping all state payments to any group or physician affiliated with an abortion clinic _ even if the money would not be used to pay for an abortion.
That action was protested by Planned Parenthood and other women's rights groups.
