Legislature deflates political football

HELENA – Gov. Steve Bullock signed a bill Friday to take federal funding of low-income women's health programs out of legislative debate.

"A woman's reproductive health shouldn't be subject to political whims of the Montana Legislature," he said. "This important law will ensure that women across Montana have access to this most basic of health care, such as mammograms, family planning services and cancer screening without facing a fight in the halls of the capitol building every two years."

House Bill 606, sponsored by Rep. Christy Clark, R-Choteau, makes Title X funding statutory, which means control of Montana's allotment of the federal money is in the hands of the Department of Health and Human Services.

The bill passed the House 86-13. Sen. Elsie Arntzen was among eight senators of 50 who voted against the bill.

"We're looking at federal funding more closely, and Title X is always controversial," the Billings Republican said. "I did not want my vote to be associated with it. You shy away from controversial things."

Martha Stahl, president of Planned Parenthood of Montana, said Title X helps provide basic health care to 23,000 Montanans but "for too long it has been used as a political bargaining chip by politicians."

Last session, a lengthy battle began after a House committee stripped from the state $4.6 million in Title X funds, eventually restored. Stahl said the 2011 and 2009 legislatures saw contentious battles about the money as well.

Federal law prohibits using the money for abortions.

Reach Tribune Staff Writer Kristen Inbody at kinbody@greatfallstribune.com. Follow her on Twitter at @GFTrib_KInbody.