Previously we reported:
While Governor of Idaho, Brad Little was out of town, Lt. Governor Janice McGeachin slyly issued an executive order banning all masks mandates in the state. Little, a Republican, has faced scrutiny by Conservative constituents due to accusations that he is a RINO and hasn’t done enough to end mask mandates across various counties and cities. McGeachin must have held a similar sentiment because she produced her executive order on Thursday, without informing Little of her plan. McGeachin announced her executive order on Twitter.
Governor Little was out of the state at the Republican Governors Association conference in TN. Little was expected to be back in Idaho yesterday afternoon, but McGeachin’s executive order was signed by the Secretary of State and put into effect at 11:00 AM yesterday morning. Little never actually implemented a statewide mask mandate but many individual cities and counties have had mandates in place. A spokesperson for Governor Little told the Idaho Statesman that, “the Lt. Gov. did not make Governor Little aware of her executive order ahead of time.”
Little sent an official statement on the matter to KTVB news: “Governor Little has been out of state this week collaborating with other Republican governors, and the Lt. Governor did not make Governor Little aware of her executive order ahead of time. He is expected to return to Idaho tonight. The Governor’s Office is reviewing the Lt. Governor’s executive order. Governor Little has never put in place a statewide mask mandate. Throughout the pandemic, Governor Little has been committed to protecting the health and safety of the people of Idaho and has emphasized the importance of Idahoans choosing to protect our neighbors and loved ones and keeping our economy and schools open. Idahoans value local control and the local approach to addressing important issues. An expanded statement from the Governor’s Office on the Lt. Governor’s executive order will be made available after a more thorough review of this executive action.”
It is possible that Governor Little could reverse McGeachin’s order when he returns as acting governor.
Well it looks like Little has now done just that, by reversing the order and claiming he has to “clean up a mess”.
“I do not like petty politics. I do not like political stunts over the rule of law. However, the significant consequences of the Lt. Governor’s flimsy executive order require me to clean up a mess.”
I do not like petty politics. I do not like political stunts over the rule of law. However, the significant consequences of the Lt. Governor’s flimsy executive order require me to clean up a mess.https://t.co/kDbQJ08wsc
— Brad Little (@GovernorLittle) May 28, 2021
You can read the full press release below:
Gov. Little defends local control, denounces Lt. Governor’s irresponsible abuse of power
Friday May 28, 2021
Boise, Idaho – Governor Brad Little issued Executive Order 2021-08 today – “Repealing Executive Order 2021-07 to Restore Local Control” – and provided the following statement to the people of Idaho:
My fellow Idahoans.
We could talk ‘til we’re blue in the face about masks and whether they work – whether mask mandates work – but I think the people of Idaho are tired of hearing about it.
With the roll out of the COVID-19 vaccine and steady declines in case counts and hospitalizations, masks are, thankfully, becoming a thing of the past.
For the record, though, I have opposed a statewide mask mandate all along because I don’t think top-down mandates change behavior the way personal choice does.
But, as your Governor, when it came to masks, I also didn’t undermine separately elected officials who, under Idaho law, are given authorities to take measures they believe will protect the health and safety of the people they serve.
An executive order that was issued while I was out of state this week runs contrary to a basic conservative principle – the government closest to the people governs best.
The executive order unilaterally and unlawfully takes away authorities given to the state’s mayors, local school board trustees, and others.
Just like the states begrudge federal government mandates, local governments in Idaho resent the state doing the same thing.
The executive order usurps legislative powers. It replicates a bill that was debated considerably in the Legislature but failed, making law with the stroke of a pen.
The action that took place while I was traveling this week is not gubernatorial.
The action that took place was an irresponsible, self-serving political stunt.
Taking the earliest opportunity to act solitarily on a highly politicized, polarizing issue without conferring with local jurisdictions, legislators, and the sitting Governor is, simply put, an abuse of power.
This kind of over-the-top executive action amounts to tyranny – something we all oppose.
How ironic that the action comes from a person who has groused about tyranny, executive overreach, and balance of power for months.
Furthermore, the executive order presents some pretty alarming consequences. For example, we would not be able to require safety measures for social workers visiting homes of at-risk individuals, or workers in our state testing lab, or employees at congregate facilities that are particularly vulnerable to outbreaks of infectious disease, threatening loss of life and added strain on the health care system we all depend on.
The executive order also conflicts with other laws on the books.
This is why you do your homework, Lt. Governor.
Let me offer some advice as Idaho’s duly elected Governor – governing in a silo is NOT governing.
I am always reluctant to engage in political ploys, especially when I have been steadfast in meeting the simultaneous goals of protecting both lives and livelihoods.
I do not like petty politics. I do not like political stunts over the rule of law.
However, the significant consequences of the Lt. Governor’s flimsy executive order require me to clean up a mess.
With my own executive order today, I will be returning Idaho law to what it was before 11 a.m. on Thursday.
To the people of Idaho, I want to thank you once again, as I have many times throughout the pandemic, for protecting your loved ones and getting us through some of the darkest months of our state’s history.
As your Governor, I have worked hard to protect lives and critical health care capacity for the entire state while keeping families safe and businesses and schools open.
Every decision has been a balancing act, and I do believe we achieved a balance. We managed to prevent a crisis in our hospitals, and we have kept our state open longer than almost every other state.
Idaho has the strongest economy in the nation and the most financially solvent state budget. With our record budget surplus, we provided Idahoans historic tax relief and made strategic investments in Building Idaho’s Future for our roads, schools, broadband, and other critical areas.
Few states can claim that kind of success.
It is an honor for me to serve as your Governor, and I remain committed to working responsibly to achieve our shared goal of making Idaho the place where our children and grandchildren choose to stay.
Time will tell how this affects the upcoming Governor primary that McGeachen, Ed Humpreys and others will be running in to challenge Little next year.
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