Montana Women Vote Action Alert - February 9th!

650% Interest is Predatory Lending (Cap interest rates, support HB 396)

In Montana, payday and vehicle title lenders charge “finance fees” that equal an APR (annual percentage rate) of up to 650%, the highest rate allowed in any state. Many families get caught in a debt trap and lose their cars or even go bankrupt. HB 396 sponsored by Bill Wilson (D) Great Falls, would limit interest rates on pay day & title loans in MT to 36% APR (many other states have already capped at this rate). House Business and Labor Committee will hear the bill today and legislators are going to vote on it in the next few days. Please contact committee members ASAP and tell them to protect consumers in our state by capping pay-day lending through passage of HB 396. This is not a partisan issue and it is important to contact legislators from both parties.

Legislators in MWV communities on the committee to contact- - Rep. Elsie Arntzen (R) Billings, Rep. Gordon Vance (R) Bozeman (possible swing vote really important to contact), Rep. Mike Milburn (R) Cascade, Chuck Hunter (D) Helena, Michelle Reinhart (D) Missoula.

They're Back!(Oppose SB 46)

After a similar CI-100 ballot initiative was not supported by Montanans last year, Senator McGee, (R- Laurel) is sponsoring SB 46, which amends the MT Constitution, eliminating privacy protections that have been in place for nearly 40 years by stating that the unborn life is a “compelling state interest.” This would authorize governmental intrusion into every pregnancy and undermine private medical decisions made between a woman and her doctor. Besides attempting to ban abortion, SB 46 and ignores the complex medical decision-making process for women with high risk pregnancies. Access to emergency contraception, in vitro fertilization, and birth control will all be jeopardized. This bill is expected to make it out of committee and onto the floor – so we must talk to all Senators about this bill – please do your part and contact your Senator today. Don’t know who your is Senator? Use this map to find out.

Support Investment in Family Planning (keep in the budget HB 2)

The best way to reduce unintended pregnancies is to offer affordable family planning. In the last session, $1 million dollars in funding (for the last two years) was included to help 27 family planning clinics across the state offset the skyrocketing cost of birth control. This year, the Governor’s proposed budget continued this funding. This Wed. the 11th, Representatives and Senators on the Joint Health and Human Services Subcommittee will have a hearing regarding this funding. If you think family planning is a sensible investment in our communities, please contact members of the committee today and ask them to make sure family planning is fully funded in this year’s budget. Targets on the committee: Sen. Dave Lewis, R-Helena, Rep. Penny Morgan, R-Billings, Rep. Carolyn Pease-Lopez, D-Billings, Rep Don Roverts, R-Billings.