Governor Bans Use of Vaccine Passports in Montana

[Eugene]

Source: Associated Press

Governor Bans Use of Vaccine Passports in Montana

BY IRIS SAMUELS ASSOCIATED PRESS/REPORT FOR AMERICA
APRIL 13, 2021

HELENA — Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte issued Tuesday an executive order banning the development or use of vaccine passports in Montana.

The move by Gianforte comes as vaccine passports — documents used to verify COVID-19 immunization status and allow inoculated people to more freely travel, shop and dine — have been portrayed by Republicans across the country as a heavy-handed intrusion into personal freedom and private health choices.

The order prohibits Montana state agencies from requiring COVID-19 vaccines to access state services or facilities. It also prohibits the state from issuing or funding such documentation, and sharing individuals’ vaccination status with other entities. Finally, it prohibits businesses in the state from requiring customers to get the COVID-19 vaccine to access services.

Gianforte, a Republican who got the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine earlier this month, was diagnosed with the virus last week, and is recovering and isolating in his home. He said in a statement that he encourages Montanans to get the vaccine, but that receiving it is “entirely voluntary” and will not be mandated by the state.

“We are committed to protecting individual liberty and personal privacy,” Gianforte said.

-snip-

Read more: https://flatheadbeacon.com/2021/04/13/governor-bans-use-of-vaccine-passports-in-montana/

[LonePirate]

1. Does this mean parents no longer need to show proof of child MMR vaccinations for school?

[2naSalit]

2. I'm telling y'all, he's mowing through everything just like former guy!

He already signed two wolf killing Bills into law and is getting ready to make the STATE PAY FOR THE COST OF HUNTING TRAPPING WOLVES BY PRIVATE CITIZENS!!

And that just his bs about wolves, then there's bears and bison and he's made friends with all of former guy's funders. Montana is in big fucking trouble because all those other stupid-assed laws those other humper states are passing are getting passed here too.

I'm seriously rethinking a possible change in my residency in the near future.

[MontanaFarmer]

5. Yes isn't this fun?

Fuck. The people of this state blow me away sometimes
Gianforte is bad enough, add rosendale, downing, knudsen and the excreble Steve daines... ugh. I feel your pain, acutely.

[Mr.Bill]

3. I'm sure the several dozen people

who live there will be happy about this.

[2naSalit]

7. Only the humpers, some of us are Democrats and are not...

Happy about it at all. This body slammer is just like former guy and is sweeping through unbelieveably bad legislation into law. Many of the legislators have been reviving Bills that were vetoed by Bullock and rerunning them because they can pass them now. It really sucks to live here right now.

[Pobeka]

12. Feel for you. I have good friends in Missoula who are miserable too.

and good friends in Bozeman too.

All good progressives. All fighting the good fight whereever they find themselves.

[2naSalit]

13. I've been...

In the greater region for over 30 years and this is even worse than the last time an R was governor. That guy was bad but this bad on steroids lead by a total asshole with an ego bigger than Montana.

Or is that an ego with and asshole bigger than Montana?

I'm so traumatized anymore that I can't tell anymore.

[roamer65]

4. Less than a million are much easier to forcibly quarantine.

[2naSalit]

14. Well, in theory maybe...

But we have wilderness and lots of us know how to go hide on the mountains, of course then we wouldn't be going to public venues so there's that.

[roamer65]

15. If you're vaccinated, then you're exempt of course!

[sinkingfeeling]

6. So, can businesses force me to wear shoes or clothing in Montana? Can I freely smoke any place?

[BannonsLiver]

10. Or moreover

Can you force fundie bakers to make cakes for people they don’t like? Seems like the courts have covered that, though there is no religious objection in this case. I would think this would be ripe for a court challenge.

[Skittles]

11. I guarantee you they would be fine denying a cake to a gay couple

HYPOCRITES

[Deuxcents]

8. I do not understand

This reasoning. My gov in Florida is doing the same thing. It’s a global pandemic! What is wrong with some people? Airlines, cruise ships n other corps are gonna be requiring this soon. It’s about freedom?! Whose freedom?

[maxsolomon]

18. It's performative. They want to be seen "protecting liberty" or some such horseshit.

No one proposed Vaccine Passposts in MT, or anywhere else that I'm aware of.

But I bet plenty of private corps are considering proof of vaccination requirements before they open their doors to the idiot hordes of Middle America.

Covid isn't going away in the US for years, because of anti-vaxxing GQP dipshits and the politicians that court their votes.

[BannonsLiver]

9. This bit seems problematic from a Constitutional standpoint

“Finally, it prohibits businesses in the state from requiring customers to get the COVID-19 vaccine to access services.”

[roamer65]

16. Courts will rule in favor of businesses requiring proof of vaccination.

It isn’t discrimination, it’s in the interest of public health.

[Delmette2.0]

17. So can we use their phrase when we argue abortion rights?

"a heavy-handed intrusion into personal freedom and private health choices."