Senators line up behind anti-abortion measure

HELENA - A bill aiming to deny Montana's right to privacy as a legal defense for abortions passed its first vote on the Senate floor, 29-19.

Senate Bill 46, sponsored by Sen. Dan McGee, R-Laurel, would would ask voters to amend Montana's constitutional provision for the right to privacy, which currently says the right "shall not be infringed without a showing of compelling state interest.” McGee's bill would add one sentence, saying, "The protection of unborn human life is a compelling state interest."

Senators debating the bill spoke for over an hour this afternoon. Sen. Jonathan Windy Boy, D-Box Elder, was one of several Democrats to vote for the bill. He said humans should respect all life, with no exceptions.

"Life is life, it's black and white," Windy Boy said. "Life is precious - we don't even own our own life."

One of the few Republicans to oppose the bill, Sen. John Brueggeman, R-Polson, said he does not support abortion, but without including contraceptives in sex education, this bill will only create larger problems in the future.

"We have to change behavior," Brueggeman said. "We can treat addiction but you can't unmake a person."

As a constitutional amendment, the bill needs the votes at least 100 of the 150 legislators . If that happens, the initiative would be on the ballot in 2010.

-by CNS correspondent Molly Priddy