Proposed Mont. Amendment That Would Define Person As Beginning At Fertilization Cleared For Signature Gathering

Main Category: Abortion
Article Date: 04 Jan 2008 - 5:00 PDT

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A proposed amendment to the Montana Constitution that would define a person as "a human being at all stages of human development or life, including the state of fertilization," has been cleared for supporters to gather signatures to petition the amendment to be on the November ballot, the AP/Great Falls Tribune reports (AP/Great Falls Tribune, 1/1).

Montana state Rep. Rick Jore, the state's only Constitution Party member, in November 2007 submitted language for the proposed antiabortion initiative to the secretary of state's office (Daily Women's Health Policy Report, 11/16/07). To be placed on the November ballot, the initiative will require signatures from 10% of the total number of registered Montana voters, or 44,615 voters, including 10% of the voters in each of at least 40 of the state's 100 House districts. The petition must be submitted by June 20 (AP/Great Falls Tribune, 1/1). According to Jore, the measure would not directly outlaw abortion but would establish constitutional rights for a fetus or human embryo so they could not be deprived of "life, liberty and property" without due process of law (Daily Women's Health Policy Report, 11/16/07).

Supporters of the amendment have formed a ballot committee called Life for Montana, which will coordinate a campaign to gather signatures. Several civil and women's rights groups -- including the American Civil Liberties Union, Planned Parenthood of Montana, NARAL Pro-Choice Montana and the Montana Human Rights Network -- are opposed to the measure. Allyson Hagen, executive director of NARAL Pro-Choice Montana, said the amendment would violate women's right to privacy and allow lawmakers to make "private medical decisions regarding women's health" (AP/Great Falls Tribune, 1/1).

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