Democratic lawmakers in Montana urge defense of Planned Parenthood

Democratic lawmakers in Montana asked the state’s congressional delegation Tuesday to defend “affordable health care access” for Montanans and oppose efforts to “defund” Planned Parenthood and “slash Medicaid” in the reconciliation bill under consideration in Washington, D.C.

The letter, signed by Democratic legislative leaders in the Montana House and Senate plus 45 other legislators, said Planned Parenthood is a “trusted, irreplaceable part” of the state’s health care system, and it has served communities for more than 55 years.

“We write in support of the thousands of Montanans who rely on Planned Parenthood health centers, especially those who live in rural, remote and medically-underserved communities where Planned Parenthood is the only provider who can care for patients, many of which are Medicaid recipients,” said the letter.

The lead signers to the letter were Rep. Katie Sullivan of Missoula and Sen. Pat Flowers of Belgrade, minority leaders in the House and Senate, respectively.

The massive tax and spending bill is in the U.S. House, and Republican Speaker Mike Johnson told reporters Tuesday it still has “a number of loose ends to tie up,” according to States Newsroom’s Washington, D.C. bureau.

The letter from Montana Democrats was directed to U.S. Sens. Steve Daines and Tim Sheehy and U.S. Reps. Ryan Zinke and Troy Downing, all Republicans. Daines, Sheehy and Zinke did not respond Tuesday to requests for comment.

Downing, however, said many Americans don’t want federal money to pay for abortions.

“For too long, the U.S. government has subsidized abortions at Planned Parenthood with complete disregard for the sincerely held beliefs of millions of Americans,” said Congressman Downing in an email from his office. “If the brutality of abortion should exist in this country, may it never receive another penny of federal funding.”

Planned Parenthood Advocates of Montana describes Planned Parenthood as the largest provider of sexual and reproductive health care in Montana, with four health centers in the state and telehealth services for thousands of patients, including Medicaid recipients.

The advocacy group said Planned Parenthood is like any other health care provider, with health centers reimbursed through health programs like Medicaid: “Medicaid funds are not used for abortion other than in rare exceptions due to the Hyde Amendment.”

The federal law known as the Hyde Amendment disallows federal funds for abortion except to save the life of the parent or for pregnancies that are the result of rape or incest.

Mary Sullivan, with Planned Parenthood Advocates, said language in the bill is specifically pointed at Planned Parenthood, but because the Hyde Amendment already restricts funding for abortion, the effect would be a limit on other services.

“Really, where they’re drawing the line is birth control, cancer screenings, STI (sexually transmitted infection) screenings,” Sullivan said.

The bill (Sec. 44126) identifies entities prohibited from receiving funds as nonprofit organizations that receive more than $1 million and are “primarily engaged in family planning services, reproductive health, and related medical care.”

Sullivan, of Planned Parenthood Advocates, said if health care centers were forced to close, many patients would have nowhere to turn, and the health care landscape in Montana is “already overwhelmed.”

In a statement, Quinn Leighton, with Planned Parenthood Advocates of Montana, said the organization would continue to work to ensure care remains available and affordable for Montanans.

“Every Montanan, no matter where they live or how much money they have, deserves access to essential, affordable health care,” Leighton said. 

A  2025 public opinion report about abortion and reproductive health policy said respondents generally opposed “a number of actions” the Trump administration could take, including taking away funds from Planned Parenthood.

“Opposition crosses party lines — with about four in 10 Trump voters or more in opposition (including 63% who oppose taking away funds from Planned Parenthood),” said the report from PerryUndem, which describes itself as a nonpartisan public opinion research firm.

In the letter from Democrats, the legislators said the consequences of “defunding” Planned Parenthood “could be catastrophic.” 

“No other provider would be able to fill the gap left by Planned Parenthood, and making cuts to Medicaid would put rural hospitals and medical centers in jeopardy,” the letter said.

A separate letter Monday organized by the State Innovation Exchange’s Reproductive Freedom Leadership Council described the prohibition in the federal bill as the latest in “politically motivated attacks” against Planned Parenthood and abortion providers.

The letter was signed by 562 lawmakers from all 50 states, according to the council.