Montana Gazette Readers:
The following email, penned by Doctor Annie Bucachek from the Flathead Valley, was submitted to various freedom-minded groups and edited (for Montana Daily Gazette) by Brenda Roskos.
For those who do not know, here is a description of exactly what the Montana Personhood Amendment is:
Montana Personhood Amendment is defined as “a “person” as “all members of the species Homo sapiens at any stage of development, including the stage of fertilization or conception, regardless of age, health, level of functioning, or condition of dependency.”
(Below is Dr. Bucachek’s email)
Subject: MTHF ACTION Item: HB 337 PERSONHOOD got 95 YAY VOTES! Just shy of the 100 votes needed to pass.
From Doctor Annie Bucachek:
MONTANA ADVOCATES for the PREBORN
HB 337—Personhood Amendment Bill got significant majorities in both houses but was five votes shy of the 100 votes needed. Rather than a simple majority of votes like most bills, 2/3 of 150 legislators must vote yes for a constitutional amendment to get on the ballot.
I am, of course, disappointed but not discouraged. With the long, sordid history of abortion in this country, we labor in anticipation of a marathon, not a sprint.
There have been many gains over the years, and you have made a huge difference. WE GOT AN ADDITIONAL TEN VOTES compared to 2019 if I include the pro-life Republican House member who was excused from the 3rd reading due to a family emergency. (86 to 96) WE ARE GETTING CLOSER EACH SESSION!
During the 2021 session, the Republican leadership worked passionately and diligently to promote the Personhood Amendment.
For a brief history of Personhood:
In 2007, it didn’t pass the House. In 2009, Montana was the first state in the USA for Personhood legislation to pass both houses; in 2011, a Republican member of the Senate Judiciary was the deciding vote to kill the bill after we had gotten almost 2/3 vote in the House, in 2015 and 2017 Republican leadership sabotaged, in 2019 it turned to supportive and in 2021 the best ever. We have used (-) votes to get rid of R legislators like Bruce Grubbs. One R who consistently voted against Personhood termed out, and his wife this year voted FOR HB 337.
I will fight vociferously for the God-Given dignity of ALL MANKIND until my last breath!
I am so grateful you are of that same heart and worked especially hard this session contacting legislators!
Please see emails, phone numbers, and message service link to thank the following people:
Caleb Hinkle for sponsoring Personhood, Tom McGillvray for carrying it on the Senate side, leadership in the House Wylie Galt (speaker), Casey Knudsen (speaker pro Tempore), Sue Vinton (majority leader), Majority whips Seth Berglee, Dennis Lenz, Lola Sheldon Galloway, and Derek Skees. On the Senate Side, Mark Blasdel (President), Jason Ellsworth (president pro Tempore), Cary Smith (Senate Majority leader), majority whips: Doug Kary, Gordy Vance, and Steve Fitzpatrick.
To thank these 15 pro-life leaders will not take much time. I include block emails for ultra-quick thank you in the SUBJECT line. Messages can be as simple as THANK YOU for PROMOTING PERSONHOOD HB 337
Click here to send a message to them.
Caleb Hinkle caleb.hinkle@mtleg.gov; 406-529-7091
Tom McGillvray tom.mcgillvray@mtleg.gov; 406-698-4428
Wylie Galt wyliegaltformt@gmail.com; 406-220-0157
Casey Knudsen casey.knudsen@mtleg.gov; 406-390-0274
Sue Vinton sue.vinton@mtleg.gov; 406-855-2625
Seth Berglee seth.berglee@mtleg.gov; 406-690-9329
Dennis Lenz dennis.lenz@mtleg.gov; 406-671-7052
Lola Sheldon-Galloway lola.sheldon-galloway@mtleg.gov; 727-4963
Derek Skees derekskees@gmail.com; 406-212-5493
Mark Blasdel mark.blasdel@mtleg.gov; 406-261-3269
Jason Ellsworth Jason.ellsworth@mtleg.gov; 406-360-0009
Cary Smith cary.smith@mtleg.gov; 406-698-9307
Doug Kary doug.kary@mtleg.gov; 406-698-1478
Gordy Vance vancesd34@gmail.com; 406-587-8608
Steve Fitzpatrick steve.fitzpatrick@mtleg.gov; 406-750-6764
caleb.hinkle@mtleg.gov; tom.mcgillvray@mtleg.gov; wyliegaltformt@gmail.com; casey.knudsen@mtleg.gov; sue.vinton@mtleg.gov; sue.vinton@mtleg.gov; seth.berglee@mtleg.gov; derekskees@gmail.com; dennis.lenz@mtleg.gov; lola.sheldon-galloway@mtleg.gov; mark.blasdel@mtleg.gov; Jason.ellsworth@mtleg.gov; doug.kary@mtleg.gov; cary.smith@mtleg.gov; vancesd34@gmail.com; steve.fitzpatrick@mtleg.gov;
Galatians 6:9 ” Let us not grow weary in well-doing, for in due time we shall reap a harvest if we do not give up.”
ANNIE BUCACHEK M.D.
President, Montana Pro-Life Coalition
