Idaho Governor Returns To State, Rescinds Local Mask Ban After One Day of Freedom Granted By Lt. Gov

P. Gardner Goldsmith | May 30, 2021
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Talk about the left hand not knowing what the right hand is doing.

In this case, it’s the leftist hand of the so-called Republican Governor of Idaho, Brad Little, and the right hand of Idaho’s Lieutenant Governor, Janice McGeachin, also a Republican, which came into conflict when Little left the state for a day, and McGeachin took over to actually abide by the state and federal constitutions by making sure no local government imposed a mask mandate.

The New American’s Veronika Kyrylenko explains:

Idaho’s ban on local COVID-19 mask mandates lasted just one day, as Governor Brad Little (R) revoked an executive order issued by his lieutenant Janice McGeachin (R) while he was traveling out of state and rebuked her for ‘irresponsible abuse of power’ and a ‘self-serving stunt.’

Which is almost beyond breathtaking, considering that the comment comes from a man who has an assumed constitutional duty to stop local governments from impose mask mandates or lockdowns that breach the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights.

Though Little never imposed a state-wide mask mandate, he did not prevent local mandates, and when he left the state, McGeachin took action:

Today, as acting Governor of the State of Idaho, I signed an Executive Order to protect the rights and liberties of individuals and businesses by prohibiting the state and its political subdivisions — including public schools — from imposing mask mandates in our state. #idpol

And, as Kyrylenko notes, the actual Executive Order read, in part:

Neither the state nor a political subdivision may mandate that an individual in this state must wear a face mask, face shield or other face covering for the purpose of preventing or slowing the spread of a contagious or infectious disease.

Which is precisely, PRECISELY correct. Full-stop.

Related: Idaho Police Arrest Worshippers Attending Outdoor Church Without a Mask

Not only is there no local, state, or federal power allowing Little or local politicians to impose mask mandates and lockdowns, or to claim which businesses are "essential" or "non-essential," as I have mentioned for MRCTV, the U.S. Constitution literally prohibits mask mandates and lockdowns via its Contract Clause, and, through various means, via the Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendments.

The victory for freedom-loving Idaho residents was short-lived, however, as Little returned from his trip and immediately reversing the Executive Order, once again paving the way for localities to impose unconstitutional mandates on his own citizens. 

Little’s attack on McGeachin appears to be a political play, and, indeed, perhaps hers was, as well. But the latter abided by her oath, while Little did not defend the rights of local Idahoans who were slammed by their local governments.

Writes Kyrylenko:

Seven counties and 11 cities, including Boise, require wearing masks in public in a bid to slow the spread of COVID-19. A bill seeking to ban mask mandates was introduced in the Idaho state legislature in March, with its sponsors arguing that forcing healthy individuals to wear face covering caused physical and emotional and even mental injuries to people’s health.

The activists have held dozens of demonstrations burning masks in defiance of local mandates, with McGeachin and at least three state legislators reportedly attending the protests.

And Little confirmed the accusations of conservative Republicans like McGeachin and libertarians who have criticized him for embracing “emergency powers” he does not constitutionally have.

“On Friday, Little proved McGeachin’s assumption, and issued sharp criticism of the state Legislature’s efforts to repeal a COVID-19 emergency declaration and thus strip him of the emergency powers.”

Those would be powers he does not have.

So, for a day, the Executive Branch of Idaho abided by the state and federal constitutions.

Then, Little returned.

Enough said.

Related: Bill of Rights Still Above His Pay Grade? NJ Gov Phil Murphy BANS Indoor Sports

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