Gianforte Says He Won’t Mandate Shots

Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte said that he will not mandate COVID vaccination shots during a press conference last week.

Gianforte, a Republican, urged Montanans to get vaccinated and is pleased that the state has gone over 50 percent as far as residents getting vaccinated.

He noted that both former president Donald Trump and current president Joe Biden are telling people to get vaccinated.

“There couldn’t be a more important time to get vaccinated,” Gianforte said. “The vaccines have been researched, they’ve been rigorously tested, they’re safe and they work.”

He said the Delta variant is serious and more dangerous for unvaccinated individuals. If people have concerns about getting vaccinated, Gianforte urged them to talk to their medical provider.

Gianforte, who says he has visited half of Montana’s 56 counties since May, noted that the state has the ninth lowest unemployment rate in the country.

He said one thing that is holding Montana back from having an even better economy is that inflation is at a 13-year high for the country. Gianforte said gas prices are up 42 percent compared to last year.

“The fiscal policy out of Washington, D.C. is contributing to inflation,” Gianforte said. He criticized the $3.5 trillion infrastructure package.