December 7, 2004

HELENA, MONTANA - A new member of the Montana House is sponsoring a bill that would require death certificates to be filed for all abortions that occur in the state.

But abortion rights advocates called Rep.-elect Roger Koopman's bill "mean-spirited" and predicted it will be defeated.

Koopman, a Bozeman Republican elected to the House in November, said he is introducing the measure because he believes women who choose to get an abortion should be made aware of the consequences.

"It's a small way for our society to acknowledge that a life did exist, even if they didn't get to see a sunrise or blow out a birthday candle," Koopman told Lee Newspapers in a story Tuesday.

Jessica Rhoades, executive director of the abortion-rights group NARAL, said the proposal serves no purpose "other than making women feel bad for making a difficult decision." She predicted Montana lawmakers would not support such a bill. "Honestly, I don't think it will be difficult to defeat," she said.