| Republicans Revive CDV Bill, Lawmaker Apologizes |
| COLUMBIA, S.C. (WLTX\AP) - There were
several new developments Tuesday in a bill to protect women from
domestic violence. The South Carolina House put a reworked criminal domestic violence bill on a fast track. The House Judiciary Committee killed a similar bill last week. The new bill would set fines of up to $2,500 for first-offense criminal domestic violence. The current penalty is 30 days in jail or a $500 fine. Also Tuesday, Charleston Representative John Graham Altman apologized for offending people with comments he made after he helped kill the criminal domestic violence bill last week. Click on the link to read Altman's apology. Altman questioned last week why women return to relationships in which they've suffered abuse. About three dozen people protested outside Altman's Charleston home on Tuesday. The orginial co-authors on the bill are divided on the way the legislative process unfolded. Representative Gilda Cobb-Hunter pulled her name from the bill, Tuesday, citing personal reasons. She addressed the House saying that partisan politics had overshadowed the real issue of domestic violence. Although her name is off the bill she still supports it and wants lawmakers to pass it. "I have encouraged members of the Democratic Caucus to vote for the bill, but I will not be a lead sponsor. Frankly, I don't need validation, I've been doing this for 30 years, my work speaks for me." This new bill could be debated as early as Thursday directly on the House floor. If you or someone you know is being abused, there are numbers you can call for help. Sistercare operates a toll-free hotline 24/7. That number is 1-800-637-7606. Or you can call the National Criminal Domestic Violence hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE. |