Six Republican state lawmakers Thursday voted in disapproval of a proposed constitutional amendment to protect access to abortion. State Democrats declined to participate in the hearing.
The committee of lawmakers voted in what appears to be a symbolic gesture to stamp a disapproving review of the proposed amendment.
The Montana Supreme Court recently ruled the proposal could go straight to signature collection and a usual legislative review was not required because of a legal technicality. But, Republican lawmakers wanted to have their say.
During the hearing, legislative staff attorney Julianne Burkhardt explained the impact of the Court’s decision to the committee. Sen. Keith Regier, a Republican from Kalispell, asked for clarification.
“The result of this committee’s vote — how and when will that be attached to the initiative?” Regier asked.
“Madame chair, Sen. Regier, it won’t be,” Burkhardt said.
Under the standard procedure, a committee of lawmakers can vote on whether to approve or disapprove of a ballot initiative, which is then indicated on the forms used to collect signatures from voters.
Democratic leaders in the state House and Senate called the hearing a “sham” in a statement.
Almost all members of the public who testified opposed the amendment. Many said its language was too broad.
The initiative’s backers face a mid-June deadline to collect 60,000 signatures from across the state needed to qualify it for the ballot.
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Montanans have voted to enshrine abortion access in the state’s Constitution.
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The two main candidates for governor spar over property taxes, housing costs, and abortion. And the two candidates for the western district congressional race tussle over the same issues in recent debates.
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More than 250 Montana health care providers have signed a letter in support of protecting abortion access in the upcoming election.
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The Montana Supreme Court upheld a temporary block Wednesday on laws that would restrict access to abortion while a lawsuit continues to play out in district court.
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Abortion rights advocates are asking Montana voters to add protections for abortion access into the state Constitution.