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Debate in Montana over responses to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020

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These pages were updated from March 2020 through June 2020 and do not contain the latest commentary available. To submit arguments for inclusion on this page, email editor@ballotpedia.org. To learn how Ballotpedia decides which arguments to feature, click here.


Ballotpedia is providing comprehensive coverage of how the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is affecting America's political and civic life. In addition to monitoring federal, state, and local responses to the coronavirus, we are also capturing the nationwide and local debates on whether to extend or lift coronavirus-related restrictions affecting the economy, schools, government operations, public health, religious services, and travel.

These arguments come from a variety of sources, including public officials, journalists, think tanks, economists, scientists, and other stakeholders. We encourage you to share the debates happening in your local community to editor@ballotpedia.org.


This article covers the debate over continuing restrictions and closures in Montana in response to the coronavirus pandemic. You will find the following:


Debate over stay-at-home orders in Montana

See also: Debate over stay-at-home orders during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020

This section includes a sampling of statements made by public officials, influencers, and stakeholders on the stay-at-home order in Montana.

  • Governor Steve Bullock (D) (Montana Public Radio): Governor Steve Bullock (D) announced a plan to pursue a gradual re-opening of Montana beginning April 26, 2020. He argued that speed of re-opening would depend on there being a two-week decline in coronavirus cases in the state, on the ability of hospitals to treat the sick, and on testing capacity.

    "We all need to understand this will be a gradual process. Because once we begin to reopen, we want to be able to stay open. Our new normal is going to look different. This virus isn’t going away and we are going to have to continue to adapt with how we live with it for the next while." - "Gov. Expected To Begin Gradual Reopening After Restrictions Expire Friday," April 21, 2020.

  • Marc Mentel of the Montana Medical Association (Independent Record): Marc Mentel of the Montana Medical Association explained why he endorsed Governor Steve Bullock’s phased re-opening plan.

    "Personally, this is the only option that incorporates everyone's values and concerns, while weighing of risk and benefits and truly treating the human spirit." - "'Not out of the woods': Montana medical expert urges caution," April 24, 2020.

  • Gerald Gray, chairman of the Little Shell Tribe of the Chippewa Cree (Montana Public Radio): Governor Steve Bullock (D) announced that he would gradually lift Montana’s stay-at-home order, but that tribes would be free to institute their own restrictions. Gerald Gray, chairman of the Little Shell Tribe of the Chippewa Cree, said that he thought it wasn’t safe to lift the order.

    "And until we have a vaccine, I think we’re just putting the population at risk, because I don’t think putting it in the hands of the population or businesses to continue with social distancing and the guidelines wearing masks and etcetera, [sic] I don’t think the people will follow that." - "Some Tribes Worry Montana Is Reopening Too Soon," April 22, 2020.

  • Montana Liberty Rally protesters (Independent Record): Several hundred people protested Governor Steve Bullock’s stay-at-home order in Helena, Montana on April 19, 2020. They argued that the order constituted a violation of civil liberties and that the spread of coronavirus in Montana was too limited to justify the order's negative economic impact. - "Hundreds rally at Montana Capitol to protest pandemic restrictions," April 19, 2020.

  • Scott Sales (R-35), Mark Blasdel (R-4), Fred Thomas (R-44), Greg Hertz (R-12), Wylie Galt (R-30), and Brad Tschida (R-97) (Great Falls Tribune): "If businesses remain closed, income and property taxes, fees and other collections will plummet, causing widespread and catastrophic results to people employed in both the public and private sectors." - "No timeline for return to normal, Montana governor says," April 14, 2020.

  • Governor Steve Bullock (D) (8KPAX): "I’d love to be able to open things up, just like every Montanan, as soon as we safely can. But it’s also those actions we’ve been taking by the social distancing by spending more time at home that I think really is helping us flatten this curve and not getting the rates of infection that we could." - "Gov. Bullock hosts COVID-19 tele-town hall," April 13, 2020.

    • Additional reading

  • "Restaurants, bars open as Montana lifts more virus closures" - Independent Record, May 4, 2020


Debate over school closures in Montana

See also: Debate over school closures during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020

This section includes a sampling of statements made by public officials, influencers, and stakeholders on school closures in Montana.

  • Bozeman Public Schools Superintendent Bob Connors (KBZK Bozeman): Governor Steve Bullock’s plan for re-opening Montana gave school districts the option of resuming in-person instruction on May 7, 2020. Bozeman Public Schools Superintendent Bob Connors said that it was appropriate to allow each school district to develop its own re-opening plan.

    "Of all the 400 and some districts, fair is what's fair for those particular people involved in that particular decision. … What is fair for Bozeman is going to look entirely different for what is fair for Malta." - "Governor Bullock to allow Montana schools option to reopen," April 23, 2020.

  • Trisha Gardner, health officer of the Cascade City-County Health Department (KRTV): Trisha Gardner, health officer of the Cascade City-County Health Department, argued that re-opening schools could lead to asymptomatic spread from children to their family members.

    "I think it opens up a potential floodgate for this to spread very quickly and easily throughout our community." - "Trisha Gardner, health officer of the Cascade City-County Health Department," April 27, 2020.

  • Whitney Williams, 2020 Democratic candidate for Governor of Montana (U.S. News & World Report): Whitney Williams, 2020 candidate for Governor of Montana, argued that schools should remain closed for the remainder of the school year.

    "Reopening our schools should be a statewide decision — backed by science, not expediency. Shifting this decision to local school boards creates a patchwork approach across the state that’s not good for parents, for teachers or for anyone in our state. … I believe it’s in the best interests of our children and the safety of our communities to keep schools closed in Montana through the end of this academic year and plan for a fall opening." - "Gov. Bullock Announces First Phase of Reopening Montana," April 22, 2020.

  • Bozeman MT Daily Chronicle Editorial Board (Bozeman MT Daily Chronicle): "Montana State University officials are under pressure to conform with guidelines from the commissioner of higher education and governor’s offices, both of which are reluctant to mandate masks and fear a legal challenge. But this is an issue that may merit some pushback. Requiring masks for attending class may invite a lawsuit, but so be it. This would be worth getting a ruling on. This is a public safety issue, pure and simple" - "Montana State University's face mask policy needs further thought," June 22, 2020.

    • Additional reading

  • "Handful of Montana schools plan to reopen after coronavirus closures" - Billings Gazette, May 5, 2020


Debate over religious service restrictions in Montana

See also: Debate over religious service restrictions during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020

This section includes a sampling of statements made by public officials, influencers, and stakeholders on religious service restrictions in Montana.

We have not yet identified any statements related to this topic or state. To suggest a statement, email us.


Debate over election policy in Montana

See also: Debate over election policies and procedures during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020

This section includes a sampling of statements made by public officials, influencers, and stakeholders on election policies in Montana.

  • Governor Steve Bullock (D) (KBZK): Gov. Steve Bullock explained the rationale for his directive that allowed Montana counties to decide whether to expand early voting and voting-by-mail.

    "This is about protecting Montanans’ right to vote at a time we face unprecedented challenges with the COVID-19 pandemic. … Locally elected officials best understand the voting needs of their communities, and taking this action now ensures they will have the time to make the right decisions for their localities. I feel confident we can protect both the public’s health and the right to vote with this direction." - "Bullock: Counties can hold all-mail election, expand early voting for June primary," March 25, 2020.

  • Scott Sales (R-35) (Billings Gazette): State Senate President Scott Sales (R-35) defended expanding voting-by-mail.

    "The people who come to vote on election day are my age or older, They’re the older generation. They’re the most reliable voters and our election judges and the people who work at the polls are even older than that. … They’re typically in their 70s and 80s. And whether you think this thing is going to get a lot of legs, or not, that is the most vulnerable segment of our society, those folks in that age group." - "Montana officials advocate for voting by mail as COVID-19 calls election processes into question," March 18, 2020.


Debate over essential and non-essential businesses in Montana

This section includes a sampling of statements made by public officials, influencers, and stakeholders on essential and non-essential businesses in Montana.

  • Scott Sales (R-35), Mark Blasdel (R-4), Fred Thomas (R-44), Greg Hertz (R-12), Wylie Galt (R-30), and Brad Tschida (R-97) (Great Falls Tribune): A group of Republican legislators urged Governor Steve Bullock to expand the range of businesses that counted as “essential” under Montana’s shelter-in-place order.

    "Montana's economy is in a freefall. Small private sector businesses are closed - some forever - because of the choices you have made to arbitrarily determine what constitutes an ‘essential’ business, in an effort to keep Montanans safe. ... Montanans who own, operate, or work at the small businesses that make up the Montana economy may never survive the conditions you have created by imposing self-identified ‘safety’ measures. At the same time this is happening, you have shielded government agencies from virtually all the same sacrifices demanded of the private sector." - "No timeline for return to normal, Montana governor says," April 14, 2020.

  • Governor Steve Bullock (D) (Sidney Herald): Governor Steve Bullock explained the rationale behind his directive that closed non-essential businesses in Montana effective March 28, 2020.

    "These measures can save lives across the United States now. Montana must act now, before its own rate of infection mirrors that of other states. I am taking these measures today because we need to stay in front of this pandemic and slow the growth of infections." - "COVID-19 prompts Montana governor to order all "non-essential businesses" closed," March 27, 2020.


Responses to the coronavirus in Montana

See also: Government responses to and political effects of the coronavirus pandemic, 2020 (Montana)


Click the links below for more on responses to the coronavirus pandemic in Montana.

General resources

The chart below shows coronavirus statistics from countries across the world. The information is provided by Real Clear Politics.

Click the links below to explore official resources related to the coronavirus outbreak.


See also

Footnotes

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Political responses to the coronavirus pandemic, 2020-2021
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Federal policy responses • State government responses • Local government responses • Diagnosed or quarantined incumbents, candidates, and officials • State legislative session changes • State legislative responses • State executive orders • Eviction and foreclosure policies • Travel restrictions • School responses (2021-2022) • School responses (2020-2021) • School responses (2019-2020) • State court closures • Stay-at-home order status • States that issued stay-at-home orders • States that did not issue stay-at-home orders • Changes to ballot measure campaigns and policies • Changes to vote-by-mail and absentee voting procedures • Initial key federal official responses • Arguments in support of and opposition to government responses • Lawsuits • Multistate agreements • Non-governmental plans to reopen • Unemployment filings • Analysis articles • Paycheck Protection Program • Mask requirements • School budget changes • State budgets • Federal definitions of essential and nonessential businesses • Federal aid to states • Lost Wages Assistance (LWA) program • State emergency power authority • Changes to state emergency power authority • Municipal emergency power authority • Halloween guidelines • Vaccine distribution plans • State plans to end federal unemployment • Changes to emergency power laws • Active COVID-19 emergency orders • State vaccine requirement (vaccine passport) policies • Recalls related to the pandemic • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance on school responses to the coronavirus • State employee vaccine requirements • Healthcare worker vaccine requirements
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