MT governor signs bills protecting taxpayer dollars, religious liberty
The following quote may be attributed to Alliance Defending Freedom Senior Counsel Denise Burke regarding Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte’s signing Thursday of HB 620, a bill sponsored by Rep. Amy Regier ensuring that taxpayer dollars funding Title X family planning programs are kept separate from abortion-related activities:
“Taxpayers shouldn’t be forced to subsidize the dangerous work of abortionists. HB 620 helps ensure that Montana women and families maintain access to quality, comprehensive healthcare, including family planning services. It does so by prioritizing funding to primary and preventive healthcare providers and ensuring that Title X family planning funding and other healthcare funding streams are kept ‘separate and distinct from abortion-related activities.’ We commend Gov. Gianforte and the Montana Legislature for prioritizing the health of women and their children and for protecting its citizens from being forced to indirectly subsidize abortion businesses.”
The following quote may be attributed to Alliance Defending Freedom Legal Counsel Greg Chafuen regarding Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte’s signing Thursday of HB 230, a bill sponsored by Rep. Matt Regier, with language introduced by Sen. David Howard, ensuring that the state does not discriminate against churches and other religious organizations and allows them to remain open during a state of emergency on the same or better terms as other businesses and services:
“Houses of worship and religious organizations provide soul-sustaining operations that are essential to our society and protected by the First Amendment. While public officials have the authority and responsibility to protect public health and safety, the First Amendment prohibits the government from treating houses of worship and religious organizations worse than shopping centers, restaurants, or gyms. HB 230 makes it clear that officials cannot discriminate against religious operations, including during a public crisis. We commend Gov. Gianforte and the Montana Legislature for taking this significant step in defending religious liberty for Montanans.”
- Pronunciation guide: Chafuen (CHAFF’-wen)
Alliance Defending Freedom is an alliance-building, non-profit legal organization committed to protecting religious freedom, free speech, parental rights, and the sanctity of life.
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ABOUT Denise Burke
Denise Burke serves as senior counsel with Alliance Defending Freedom, where she is a member of the Center for Public Policy. In this role, her efforts are directed toward protecting life from conception to natural death and defending the conscience rights of health care professionals. Prior to joining ADF, Burke served as vice president of legal affairs for Americans United for Life. She began her career with the Judge Advocate General’s Corps, United States Air Force, both on active duty and in the reserve. Rising to the rank of lieutenant colonel, she served as an instructor at the USAF JAG School and on the editorial board of the Air Force Law Review. In response to the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, Burke volunteered to serve again on active duty. In recognition of her service, the Air Force awarded her the Meritorious Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal. A member of the state bar of Texas, Burke is admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court, the Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces, and multiple federal district and appellate courts. She earned her bachelor’s degree in business management from the University of Maryland, followed by her Juris Doctor from Southern Methodist University.
ABOUT Greg Chafuen
Greg Chafuen serves as legal counsel for Alliance Defending Freedom’s Center for Public Policy. He focuses on legislation impacting religious liberty at the state level. Prior to joining ADF, Chafuen spent three years as a white-collar defense litigator at Weil, Gotshal & Manges in Washington, D.C. and one year as a law clerk to the Hon. Alice Batchelder on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit. Chafuen earned his J.D. from Notre Dame Law School, graduating cum laude in 2015. While at Notre Dame, he served as president of the Notre Dame chapter of the Federalist Society, a member of a journal’s editorial board, and a member of the moot court board. He is a 2013 Blackstone Fellow and a Rumsfeld Foundation Fellow. Chafuen is admitted to the bars of Virginia and Washington, D.C.