Missoulian: Proposal could ban abortion in state, by Charles S. Johnson:
HELENA – The Montana ProLife Coalition isproposing a 2010 constitutional initiative that ultimately could banabortion by declaring that human life begins when an egg is fertilized.
FormerRep. Rick Jore, a Constitution Party member from Ronan, submitted theproposal for the coalition to Secretary of State Linda McCulloch.
Legislativeefforts by Jore and Sen. Dan McGee, R-Laurel, failed in 2007 and 2009,respectively, to place similar proposed constitutional amendments onthe ballot. Jore and other backers of a separate initiative fell morethan 18,000 votes short of qualifying it for the 2008 ballot.…
FormerRep. Rick Jore, a Constitution Party member from Ronan, submitted theproposal for the coalition to Secretary of State Linda McCulloch.
Legislativeefforts by Jore and Sen. Dan McGee, R-Laurel, failed in 2007 and 2009,respectively, to place similar proposed constitutional amendments onthe ballot. Jore and other backers of a separate initiative fell morethan 18,000 votes short of qualifying it for the 2008 ballot.…
Meanwhile, a leading anti-abortion group,Right to Life of Montana, questioned the timing of the initiative,while supporting its goal.
“Right to Life of Montana agrees withthe premise behind the amendment that all life should be protected andthat the U.S. Constitution and the Montana Constitution never condonedabortion,” said Gregg Trude, the group's executive director. “Until theU.S. Supreme Court changes, we do not believe this is the proper timefor such an initiative.”