Posted on 05/28/2021 2:23:44 PM PDT by george76
The governor called Lt. Gov. Janice McGeachin's executive order "an irresponsible, self-serving political stunt" that subverted the decisions of local officials.
Idaho Gov. Brad Little repealed an executive order banning mask mandates across the state Friday morning, 24 hours after Lt. Gov. Janice McGeachin issued the surprise action while the governor was out of town.
In a statement, Little slammed McGeachin issuing the executive order as "an irresponsible, self-serving political stunt" that subverted the decisions of local officials and the people of Idaho.
McGeachin was serving as acting governor when she issued the order banning mask mandates statewide among state political entities, including schools. The order went into effect at 11 a.m. Thursday, catching districts by surprise in the middle of the school day.
Little, who had left Idaho to travel to the Republican Governors Association conference, said he was not informed about the executive order ahead of time. McGeachin is running against Little in the upcoming governor's race.
In his statement, Little accused McGeachin of making a politically motivated power grab to strip decision-making authority from mayors, school board members, and other local officials.
"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 to pass a body of individuals representing Idahoans from all corners of the state, and makes it law with the stroke of one person’s pen," the governor wrote. "The action that took place while I was gone 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," Little continued.
McGeachin wrote in a statement on her Facebook page that the governor "chose to revoke your personal freedom by rescinding my order.
"I understand that protecting individual liberty means fighting against tyranny at ALL levels of government — federal, state, and local. It is your God-given right to make your own health decisions, and no state, city, or school district ever has the authority to violate your unalienable rights," she wrote. "As your Lt. Governor, I remain undeterred and unwavering in my commitment to defend your rights and freedoms against all who would violate them. Now, more than ever, we must stand together against those who prioritize their own power above individual liberty."
Little has repeatedly declined to issue a statewide mask mandate, even amid the worst of the COVID-19 death toll in Idaho. However, he has long argued that individual cities, counties, and school districts should make the decisions on face coverings they feel are best for their own communities.
Law experts warned on Thursday that McGeachin's executive order could face legal challenges. Several school districts, including Boise and West Ada, said they were consulting their own district lawyers about their school boards' authority to enforce health and safety protocols before making any changes.
Little reiterated that the order to ban mask mandates conflicts with other Idaho laws and presents "some pretty alarming unintended consequences." For example, the governor said, it would no longer be possible to require safety measures for social workers visiting high-risk clients, workers in the state laboratory, or employees at facilities vulnerable to outbreaks of disease.
"This is why you do your homework, Lt. Governor," Little wrote. "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 consequences of the Lt. Governor’s flimsy executive order require me to clean up a mess."
The governor's executive order functionally undoes McGeachin's action, returning Idaho law to what it was before.
Each to his own....we each have understanding or not but when history has already revealed the facts I’m content with my opinion and understanding.....and I am a woman.
No mask today at shop-rite and home depot here in SE PA.
horray. Also GF at CVS.
Don’t feel confused. I read it the wrong way around myself at first.
Especially when I read it was a RINO Republican governor who was trying to keep the mask mandates enforced.
Yeah, because everyone in Florida is dying. Idiots.
And also. I am noticing this is a local TV news report.
Are you a junior college journalism dropout? Then you always have a future in local TV news.
I swear I have seen better writing from fifth graders than I do from the average TV news report.
“...a politically motivated power grab to strip decision-making authority from mayors, school board members, and other local officials...”
Good on her! You can’t let every little Shitsville, Idaho petty tyrants rule like that.
“...McGeachin is running against Little in the upcoming governor’s race....”
Your choice Idaho...Gretchen Whitmer in pants or a REAL WOMAN!
Our Lt. Gov is a great person...rock solid conservative.
I’ve met and talked with her several times...not uncommon for her to show up at a conservative rally in a small town.
Governor Brad Little is a mediocre, third rate politician, a product of the corrupt Idaho Republican political machine that decides who gets elected.
The machine is why we have representatives like congress critter Mike Simpson...Nancy Pelosi’s favorite Republican.
Lt. Gov. Janice McGeachin for the win!
I commented on this story yesterday when the Lt Gov issued the order.
It appears Gov Little maybe a RINO and what better way to expose him.
The Lt Gov already had plans to primary Gov Little so this was a smart move by her.
Hopefully, the Lt Gov is not a RINO.
We will see when the primary battles begin next year.
No she did not. Not any more than he did making the mandates to begin with.
She ran for office separate of him.
He refused the legislature when they wanted to reconvene and actually pass laws, which, at the time, she publicly said is the way a republic is supposed to work.
I live in Idaho and Little is a RINO, almost as bad as Romney.
She’s running for gov, right? Boy, if so, she sure flushed out the truth of the current wicked gov
Then there is the Mayor of Boise, sanctuary city McClean. She really needs to go!
Well, it looked to me like the Governor’s order said he was leaving it to local municipalities to mandate masks or not mandate masks. The Lt. Gov. said locals did not have the authority to make that decision. I think everyone involved is playing politics.. wonder what the Governor would do if the Lt. Gov. had signed an executive order banning local ordinances against miscegeny or sodomy? What would be the difference?
The moron mayor of Boise said she wanted Boise to more resemble Portland, Oregon...sums it up nicely.
I also live in Idaho and am disgusted with the state GOP political machine that decides which Republican gets to win.
Gov Brad Little is a mediocre political hack...essentially Butch Otter with a horse.
His campaign commercials always had Little screwing around with a horse...and all the ranch and ag-types fell in love with him.
How do we end up with such worthless political back-benchers...like congress critter Mike Simpson? Another third-rate back bencher and one of Nancy Pelosi’s favorite republicans.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.