We will wait for the ….

We will wait for the Court’s official and final decision rather than comment on an improperly leaked draft,” wrote Senate President Mark Blasdel and House Majority Leader Sue Vinton in an emailed statement. “Roe v. Wade was wrong from the day it was issued and we hope and believe that Life will prevail.”

Democrats in the state Legislature said the draft opinion would be a “greater attack” on reproductive rights if it became final and reiterated the importance of Montana’s constitutional protections.

“It is clear that some politicians will not stop until they can control even the most intimate aspects of our private decision making,” said House Minority Leader Kim Abbott and Senate Minority Leader Jill Cohenour. “Our state’s Constitutional right to privacy has never been more critical, and Montana’s Democratic legislators will fight tooth and nail to defend it.”

States surrounding Montana, including Idaho, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming, have laws in place to ban abortion if the federal guarantee is overturned. But Fuller, from Montana’s Planned Parenthood affiliate, said Montana already serves many patients from across the region because of limited providers. If Roe is overturned and other states “go dark” on abortion access, she said, Montana may see more patients traveling from further distances to end their pregnancies here.

While her organization will closely watch any official ruling that comes from the nation’s high court, Fuller said Planned Parenthood’s immediate focus is unchanged: protecting Montana patients and providers from restrictive laws and regulations pushed by anti-abortion activists and politicians.

“When you have that as your ultimate goal and purpose and life calling, people will not give up on that,” Fuller said. “But on the other side, nor will we.”