Montana

Montana lawmaker: There’s a religious right to abortion

Published

1 year ago

February 18, 2023

Montana lawmaker: There’s a religious right to abortion

HELENA, Mont. (AP) — Abortion rights teams are difficult abortion bans in some states by arguing the bans — supported by sure non secular rules — violate the non secular rights of individuals with totally different beliefs.

Conservative Christians for many years have argued that life begins at conception and abortion must be unlawful and 47 states have legal guidelines that permit well being care staff to decide out of offering abortions if that violates their non secular beliefs or morals.

In Montana, a state lawmaker who’s an ordained Jewish rabbi argues non secular freedom legal guidelines that defend well being care staff’ non secular beliefs also needs to defend abortion rights for individuals who belong to religions that help such rights.

“Evidently each side must be permitted to have equal protections for his or her non secular conscience,” stated Rep. Ed Stafman, a Democrat.

States have been creating their very own abortion legal guidelines after the U.S. Supreme Court docket overturned its landmark Roe v. Wade ruling final summer season. Abortion legal guidelines in Florida, Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, Utah and Wyoming have confronted challenges on the premise of non secular freedom, in line with the Kaiser Household Basis. None of these instances have been resolved.

The Montana invoice faces unsure prospects within the state’s Republican-controlled legislature, however Stafman famous that a number of members of the Home Judiciary Committee that heard testimony on the invoice on Friday are members of the Montana Freedom Caucus, a gaggle of conservative lawmakers whose key points embrace non secular freedom.

Montana’s Home Judiciary Committee, together with the Home itself, have already handed a invoice this session increasing the state legislation to permit well being care staff to say no to take part in any medical procedures that violate their conscience or non secular beliefs.

Stafman’s invoice doesn’t say how the state would decide if non secular safety must be granted, however well being care services can ask for workers to submit in writing their non secular or ethical refusals to take part in abortions.

The Facilities for Medicare and Medicaid type for these looking for an exemption from a required COVID-19 vaccine requires only a signature and no rationalization. Below federal legislation, a person can search a spiritual exemption no matter whether or not the non secular beliefs, observances or practices are frequent or non-traditional and no matter whether or not they’re acknowledged by any organized faith.

Republicans on the committee questioned how far the proposed legislation might go in defending actions claimed as non secular beliefs, together with whether or not it ought to defend infanticide or the killing of people that violate non secular tenets.

“Do you admit then {that a} non secular exemption for killing a baby that has been born … exists beneath your premise behind this invoice?” Republican Rep. Lee Deming requested.

“No,” Stafman replied. “There’s no non secular exemption to kill a baby that’s been born beneath my invoice.”

There are limitations to non secular protections, “when there’s a very, very broad public consensus on morality like there may be round polygamy and definitely round homicide,” Stafman stated.

“On this case, the case of abortion, there actually isn’t any consensus,” he stated. Polls present society is split, as are totally different non secular communities, he stated.

Some non secular teams, together with the Roman Catholic Church, Assemblies of God, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and the Southern Baptist Conference, oppose abortion rights, with few to no exceptions, in accordance the Pew Analysis Heart.

The Episcopal Church, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and the United Methodist Church help abortion rights, with some limits. Conservative and Reform Judaism, the Presbyterian Church, Unitarian Universalist and the United Church of Christ help abortion rights with few or no limits, Pew stated.

Islam, Buddhism, the Nationwide Baptist Conference and Orthodox Judaism maintain no clear place on the process.

Judaism has an amazing respect for all times, Stafman stated, and it differentiates between a girl as a life and a fetus as a possible life.

Stafman stated he respects the non secular beliefs of those that got here to testify towards his invoice, quoting the Bible and scripture.

“These are honest non secular beliefs, however so are mine,” he stated.

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Montana

New Montana law requires government boards to record public meetings

Published

4 hours ago

July 3, 2024

Press Room

New Montana law requires government boards to record public meetings

A new law went into effect on July 1, requiring government boards to record public meetings by video or audio.

The goal is to encourage public participation and provide greater transparency.

House Bill 890 drew some opposition at the state legislature last year, but it looks like boards around Montana have found reasonably priced equipment and are ready to post those meetings online.

Some boards such as the Yellowstone County Commission have already been posting recordings of regular meetings and discussions.

“It’s a right for everybody to be able to see what happened,” said Commissioner Don Jones, R- Yellowstone County. “And you know what we were talking about and our thought process.”

Jones supports the idea of HB 890 which states in its title that it provides for increased transparency and accountability.

“Our constitution has made it very clear that the Sunshine Laws need to be there to let the public have that opportunity, see what we’re doing,” Jones said.

The Montana Association of Counties (MACO) wanted the requirement to be optional.

“We want to follow the law,” said Commissioner Ross Butcher, Fergus County. “We want to do it appropriately. But when it’s ambiguous, that’s difficult.

Butcher is the MACO president and says it’s not clear what constitutes a meeting.

As chair in Fergus County, he says commissioners have figured out what meetings to record.

“I do think it’s easy enough to just look at it and say, listen, any meeting that you’re going to agenda-dize and follow the steps of an open meeting, then you probably should record it,” Butcher said.

The law applies to the Board of Investments, the public employees retirement board, teachers retirement board, the board of Regents, county commissions, city councils, school boards and county boards of health.

“Concern about the level of distrust and the lack of civility in our public discourse, first off,” said Rep. Brad Barker, R-Carbon County. “Second thing is it supports Montana’s constitutional right to know. And the third is we have the technological means.”

The Canyon Creek school board and the County Water Board of Billings Heights board are among those ready to record meetings.

“I don’t think any of us have a problem with transparency,” Butcher said. “I think it’s a good thing.”

“It should be beneficial if people want to get engaged and I encourage everybody to get engaged in their local government,” Jones said.

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Montana

Montana tribes seek to join court case over EPA water rights rule

Published

11 hours ago

July 2, 2024

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The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes joined six other tribes in defense of a new federal rule protecting their water rights in court.

The rule requires states to consider tribes’ fishing, hunting and gathering rights while crafting water regulations.

Twelve states sued the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency over the rule, which was finalized earlier this year.

Montana is not part of the lawsuit. Those states argue the federal government oversteps its power under the Clean Water Act and would severely limit their ability to craft water standards.

Seven tribes have filed a motion to intervene in the case. They say the rule is key to protecting “reserved rights,” which gives tribes the ability to hunt, fish and gather on lands they ceded to the federal government through treaties.

The tribes say the rule is within the EPA’s authority as it ensures treaties are adhered to.

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Montana

Crews on Montana Creek Fire #312 continue to cut fire line and mop up in thick spruce timber

Published

18 hours ago

July 2, 2024

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Home › Active Wildland Fire › Crews on Montana Creek Fire #312 continue to cut fire line and mop up in thick spruce timber

By 2024montanacreek on July 2, 2024

Fire crews provide initial attack overnight to protect a structure.

TALKEETNA, Alaska-The Montana Creek Fire (#312) is located 16 miles south of Talkeetna and was reported on June 29th. Overnight, crews responded to a new grass fire near the origin. The fire remains 40% contained, with moderate fire activity primarily creeping and smoldering in timber. The fire is located in a critical Protection Area prompting multi-agency resource response. Ninety-six personnel are assigned to the incident including resources from BIA, BLM, State and USFS. Three crews, one fire use module, 1 engine, 2 water tenders, 3 Division Supervisors and one EMT.

Aerial View of the retardant line on the eastern edge of the Montana Creek Fire. Photo: DOF PIO Remote Pilot Kale Casey

Aerial View of the 172 Acre Montana Creek Fire on July 1. Photo: DOF PIO Remote Pilot Kale Casey

Fire crews continue to secure the perimeter and mop up will begin where conditions allow. Investigators determined this to be a human caused fire. With the upcoming 4th of July holiday, the public is reminded that discharging fireworks in Forested lands is illegal.

Due to the fire activity seen within the fire area residents along the Leroy Davie Road and Montana Creek Road corridors were moved to a SET (Alert Status). However, an evacuation order has not been issued at this time. There has been confirmation that one outbuilding has been lost to the fire.

The Parks Highway remains open. The public traveling on the Parks Highway may continue to be impacted by smoke and a large contingency of ground resources assisting in fire suppression efforts between mile markers 94-100. The public is encouraged to stay attentive and slow down near the fire area as crews continue suppression efforts throughout the day.

In addition to ground travel, there has been a temporary flight restriction put in place to provide clear air space to aviation assets assisting on the fire. For more information on the TFR, please visit: https://tfr.faa.gov/save_pages/detail_4_5688.html