War on Women Report
Two abortion clinics in Montana have filed a lawsuit aiming to put a hold on a new law requiring them to be licensed by the state. The legislation, HB 937, dictates that in addition to obtaining a license from the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Service, clinics must change their rules of operation, including but not limited to introducing new required equipment, staff qualifications and clinic layouts. Helen Weems, an advanced practice registered nurse who has previously successfully sued the state for ludicrous abortion restrictions, has also joined the lawsuit in support.
“What we’re seeing here is lawmakers trying to single out abortion,” said Aileen Gleizer, a spokesperson for the two independent clinics (Blue Mountain Clinic in Missoula and All Families Healthcare in Whitefish). “They haven’t been able to outlaw it, and so they’re trying to come up with kind of fictionalized bureaucratic barriers to make it untenable for clinics to operate.”