by Robin Sertell, Chair, Montanans for Life
You may have heard that a group called Montanans Securing Reproductive Rights (MSRR) has been working to put a ballot measure called CI-128 on the November ballot. MSRR claims that this is what Montanans want, and that they’ve collected more than enough signatures to put CI-128 on the ballot. However, some questions remain.
First, if Montanans really want this, then why is there so much out-of-state money and effort involved? In a recent article, News Nation Now reports that, “Planned Parenthood will spend $40 million ahead of November’s elections to bolster President Joe Biden and leading congressional Democrats. It will initially target eight states: Arizona, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, North Carolina, Montana, New Hampshire and New York.” You read that right – FORTY MILLION DOLLARS!
Now, it seems to me, if Montanans really wanted this, Planned Parenthood wouldn’t need to spend such an exorbitant amount of money to back this measure. Why, if Montanans really wanted this, wouldn’t we be voting favorably on this measure without financial outlay? One must also ask, why does Planned Parenthood have 40 million dollars, anyway? They receive government subsidy by way of our tax dollars…to put toward political activism? Really? And they want us to believe this is all for women’s healthcare?
If that’s not enough, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker has also contributed substantially. According to the Commissioner of Political Practices’ records, he’s contributed $500,000. That’s right, as an Axios article reports, Gov. Pritzker is self-funding this effort by funneling the funds through his group Think Big America. Wait…he’s not a Montanan! What good reason does the Governor of Illinois have to donate a half a million dollars to back a pro-abortion ballot measure in Montana? A better question may be, do Montanans want Illinois politics determining Montana laws, and changing Montana culture?
There are other major contributors from out-of-state, in addition to the Governor of Illinois and Planned Parenthood’s political arm. Elizabeth Simmons of Atherton, California has contributed $100,000, and a Barbara Simons of San Francisco, California added $50,000 to the cause. Individuals from other blue areas, such as Seattle and Maryland, have added funds as well. Speaking of funds, their funds are being raised by a group out of Wisconsin, called Path to Victory. Path to Victory’s website claims that they’ve run campaigns in Iowa, Kansas, and Wisconsin. Tell me again… how is this Montanan? Where are the Montanans? If this is truly a Montana issue, then why aren’t Montanans the major players and contributors?
It all comes down to this: if Montanans don’t want out-of-staters pushing their culture down our throats, they need to vote NO on CI-128, if it goes to the ballot in November. If passed, this ballot measure would enshrine taxpayer-funded abortion without limits in our Montana state Constitution. It would also remove parents’ rights to know about – and approve or disapprove of – their minor child’s abortion. CI-128 would also bring a new normal to sex trafficking, by allowing traffickers to bring their victims in for abortions without question. Additionally, painful, late-term dismemberment abortions would be legalized, right up until the moment of birth. Finally – this is touted as the “Women’s Rights Petition,” but if this passes, women who are injured during their abortions will lose their right to legal recourse. This is especially troubling, considering that many women now travel for their abortions, and Montana is quickly becoming an “abortion tourism” state. Being surrounded by conservative states that don’t allow abortion near as much as Montana, we would actually be putting many women in jeopardy.
Montanans don’t want out-of-state money taking away their parental rights. Montanans don’t want their tax money paying to rip babies apart and kill them. Montanans don’t want their culture manipulated by out-of-state money. If you don’t want California, Illinois, Wisconsin, or Maryland to change our Montana way of life, vote NO on CI-128.
Sean McGrew says
1.) It’s always wrong to intentionally kill innocent human beings.
2.) Abortion intentionally kills innocent human beings.
3.) Therefore, abortion is always wrong.
Here’s a thought experiment. Let’s switch the words “abortion” and “kills” with “slavery” and “enslaves.” Let’s see how it looks.
1.) It’s always wrong to intentionally enslave innocent human beings.
2.) Slavery intentionally enslaves innocent human beings.
3.) Therefore, slavery is always wrong.
Do you know why these syllogisms both work the same way? It’s because they both view the human being as something that has inestimable value regardless of its circumstances. Some people used to see black people as something less than human and some people see unborn humans also as something less than human.
These groups of people are both wrong for the same reason. Black people and the unborn are both members of the human family and so have worth beyond all measure. When your worldview puts you in the same camp as slave-owners you might want to re-examine why you think the way you do. Vote NO on CI-128!
WMA says
Sean,
The vast majority of Americans don’t agree with you and I suspect the majority or Montanans don’t either. I will vote to keep a woman’s health care choices between herself and her doctor. Your opinion doesn’t matter. To her or to me.
Robin Sertell says
WMA,
1. If you have something to say, stand by your word by using your name, not hiding behind “WMA”. What are you afraid of?
2. Yes, the vast majority of Americans want to protect human beings – including the majority of Montanans. YOUR opinion is devoid of the consequences to the baby, and YOU don’t get to decide who’s opinion matters. You’re not in charge of other’s opinions.
3. Healthcare heals. Abortion is the intentional killing of a human being. It is NOT healthcare.
Robin says
Thanks so much for bringing out those great points, Sean!
Joi Gratny says
It is true that a lot of people were willing to sign, but I monitored some of the signings, and those who were collecting signatures were not telling the people who signed the truth about the CI- 128.
Most of those who signed were told that nothing was going to change in Montana as far as abortion and anyone who reads the bill can see that this will make a big difference in Montana. In a bad way.
WMA says
Robin,
You say that enough signatures were gathered to get this measure on the ballot, but you failed to mention the huge volume of Montanans who took the time to sign. If memory serves, 60,000 signatures were needed; 117,000 were gathered and every one of those signers was a legally registered Montana voter. We support protecting women’s rights in our state.
Robin Sertell says
WMA,
Not true, as the signature validation phase has yet to be completed. Of the 117,000 signatures, no one yet knows how many are valid.