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Montana Women's Lobby

The Montana Women's Lobby (MWL) previously called the Women's Lobby Fund, was formed in 1981 by a group of women's organizations such as the MT Coalition Against Domestic Violence (MCADV), MT NARAL, Women in Transition, child care and nurses groups and the American Association of University Women (AAUW) and BPW/MT. The organizations shared a progressive political agenda and hired a lobbyist to have a presence during the legislative session. By the year 2000 AAUW and BPW accepted responsibility for support and leadership of the MWL.

AAUW and BPW are taking leadership roles in MWL for this Legislative session year and have contracted with lobbyist Linda Gryczan of Helena. The three main women's issues for 2007 representing key public policy priorities for BPW and AAUW are:
* We support a stong system for public education: for example supporting adequate and equitable funding.
* We support equity and individual rights and protections for a diverse society: for example preventing predator and domestic violence by passing Jessica's Law.
* We support economic self sufficiency for women.

• The three main legislative priorities of MWL for the 2005 legislative session were: maintaining nongender insurance, raising the minimum wage and requiring school districts to have anti-bullying policies. Other interests included reproductive choice, low income issues and human rights issues.

Legislative Session Summary
May 2005

The Mission of the Montana Women's Lobby

The Montana Women's Lobby (MWL) is a grassroots progressive public interest coalition. MWL works for the personal and political empowerment of women and progressive public policy benefiting women and families. With organizational and individual members all across Montana, MWL is nonpartisan, placing the interests of women and families above party differences to work in communities and the legislature.

MWL works for unrestricted access to family planning, abortion and maternity care services.

MWL will not tolerate laws which are soft on the crimes of battering and rape. Every woman has an absolute right to physical integrity and safety.

Little progress will be made on issues of importance to women as long as our representation in government and other institutions is limited. MWL supported and passed bills to provide proper inclusion for women and minorities in governmental appointments.

MWL works hand-in-hand with groups working for the well-being of children and families on issues critical to women and children.

MWL as been active in Appropriations Committee considerations of a wide range of health and human service programs, always standing for the maintenance of funding for programs which provide health services for women and families.

MWL has consistently advocated for poor women and refused to allow them to be treated as scapegoats during recessions.

MWL consistently supports the civil liberties of diverse populations including advocating for lesbian, gay and bisexual civil rights.

MWL also works for:

Insurance Reform - Tax Reform - Comparable Worth Legislation

To Join the MWL print out the information below and mail with check to Montana Women's Lobby PO Box 11558, Bozeman MT 59719-1558