At a press conference in Helena, Montana Governor Greg Gianforte fulfilled a campaign promise on Wednesday by lifting former Governor Steve Bullock’s directives on bars, restaurants and other small businesses.

“Today I'm issuing a new directive that removes or replaces the cumbersome layers of existing ones,” said Gianforte. “These new directives are clear, they're practical, they are common sense and they're easy to understand. Gone are the 25 pages of overlapping and confusing directives. Our new directive is clear and it fits on three pages.”

Gianforte restored hours and capacity levels to small businesses in Montana with the stroke of a pen.

“We are repealing existing directives that unduly restrict hours of operation for restaurants, bars, breweries, distilleries, and casinos, too,” he said. “We are repealing existing directives that impose arbitrary capacity limits. We emphasize that businesses should follow industry best practices to prevent the spread of the virus.”

The Governor also looked forward to a time when the state can put the COVID 19 pandemic in the rear view mirror.

“I look forward to a day when we can all take off our masks, throw them in the trash, and get on with our lives in a safe manner,” he said. “Until we get there, I continue to choose to wear a mask and I encourage others to do the same.”

President of the Montana Chamber of Commerce, Todd O’Hare said Gianforte’s new directives will allow Montana businesses to get one step closer to a complete recovery.

 

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