Montana Gov. Steve Bullock Filled Coronavirus Task Force with High-Value Donors, Records Show

Montana Gov. Steve Bullock appointed his own high-dollar donors to a committee tasked with advising him of where to distribute coronavirus relief money, including to industries where those donors had interests. 

The report by Fox News highlights an instance where Bullock has mixed his official business as Governor with campaign considerations as he runs for the U.S. Senate. 

Bullock’s donors serving on the panel is particularly concerning considering the committee broke Montana open meeting law by meeting behind closed doors. To this point, only a small percentage of Montana’s federal aid has been disbursed. 

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Fox News: Montana Gov. Steve Bullock filled coronavirus task force with high-value donors, records show
By Gregg Re

Montana Gov. Steve Bullock, who is running as a Senate candidate in a tight race rated a toss-up by the Cook Political Report, filled his 24-member coronavirus task force with a lengthy list of high-dollar donors who then informed his administration how to distribute more than $1 billion in federal stimulus aid, records reviewed by Fox News show.

The task force, known as the Coronavirus Relief Fund Advisory Council, included representatives of various resorts, hotels, and restaurants — which could stand to benefit from the task force’s recommendations in their final report for the state to provide “direct, immediate and mid-term assistance” to the hospitality and tourism industries.

The task force also recommended “direct grant assistance” to Montana nonprofits, with priority to those that have been subject to statewide closure and whose mission is to serve populations affected by the coronavirus.
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