NARAL Pro-Choice Montana: P.O. Box 279 Helena, MT  59624 406.443.0276 prochoice@mt.net

 

McGee Amendment to HB 2.

(HB 2 is the bill that funds all state agencies, programs and workers.)

Sen. Dan McGee (R-Laurel) introduced an amendment to HB 2 that would have cut off Title X family planning money to any clinic that provides abortions.

Title X provides funding for preventative reproductive healthcare for low-income and uninsured women. This amendment would have defunded Title X services at all InterMountain Planned Parenthood clinics throughout the state. This amendment failed 25-25. Just one vote would have passed this bill into the House allowing one legislator's personal opposition to abortion to impact access to preventative reproductive health care for thousands of Montanans.

Click below to see how your Montana legislators voted.  A yes vote is anti-choice.

McGee Amendment to HB 2 (pdf)

Why NARAL Pro-Choice Montana opposed this amendment:  Each public dollar spent to provide family planning services saves an estimated $3.00 that would otherwise be spent in Medicaid costs for pregnancy related care and medical care for newborns.  In addition, preventative health care saves the state money by addressing medical needs before people reach a crisis situation and end up in our hospital emergency rooms.  This amendment was meant to attack Planned Parenthood.  In the end, the real victims would be the thousands of low-income people served by the Title X programs.

Talking Points:

• McGee threatened to cut these essential programs as political payback for stopping his bill.  Legislators should not endanger people’s lives and access to healthcare out of revenge.
  
• In many jurisdictions, there are no other health care providers who would be able or willing to fill the void created by the termination of contracts with existing family planning providers.
  
• Since 20% of Montanans have no health insurance, it is not uncommon for Planned Parenthood to be the sole healthcare provider for low-income women and their families.
  
• This amendment would cut off Title X funding for the largest provider of these services including breast & cervical cancer screening, pregnancy tests, contraceptive services & supplies, sex education, and screening and treatment for sexually transmitted infections.
  
• This amendment would have cut off vital prevention services and educational programs in more than 14 Montana communities.  Planned Parenthood has clinics in Helena, Great Falls, Missoula and Billings.  They also have satellite sites in White Sulphur Springs, Conrad, Fort Benton, Forsyth, Choteau, Shelby, Poplar, Wolf Point, Culbertson, and Plentywood.  They also provide services throughout the state through classroom education programs, parent/child workshops, health fairs, and training institutes.

 

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