Senate approves Uber bill, keeping its chances alive
The state Senate has approved a bill allowing Uber to continue operating in South Carolina, keeping alive the measure’s chances this year.
Wednesday’s vote returned the amended bill to the House, which approved its version 10 weeks ago.
The House could vote Thursday to either send the bill to Gov. Nikki Haley’s desk or to a group of legislators who could work toward a compromise during a special session later this month.
The regular session ends Thursday.
Last week, Haley urged senators to act, saying Uber’s departure from South Carolina would deprive residents of safe, reliable transportation.
In January, the Public Service Commission issued a cease-and-desist order stopping the app-based service. Following criticism from lawmakers, the commission reversed course two weeks later and granted a temporary license through June 30.
Bill that bans abortion at 20 weeks likely dead
A bill that bans abortion at 20 weeks in South Carolina almost certainly is dead for the year.
The House returned the bill to the Senate Wednesday after removing exemptions that chamber added for cases of rape, incest and severe fetal abnormalities. The Senate defined those circumstances as anomalies that make it improbable the child could live after birth without machines.
If the House had agreed to the Senate version, the bill would have headed to Gov. Nikki Haley’s desk. Instead, it is headed toward a committee of six legislators who will attempt to work out the differences.
That will be difficult, and the committee appears unlikely to even meet this year.