Idaho – On Wednesday, Governor Brad Little issued a proclamation with legislation that will be considered during the Idaho legislature’s special session beginning on August 24, 2020.
Out of 6 proposed topics by House and Senate Leadership, Governor Little has proposed three pieces of legislation that address the November 2020 election and civil liability during coronavirus. No other subjects will be discussed during the special session. Representative Melissa Wintrow/(D-Boise) expressed her disappointment in the Governor’s special session proclamation.
“A special session of the Idaho legislature could have been a valuable tool early on in the coronavirus pandemic. However, the proposed legislation does not address many of the serious challenges that our state is currently facing.” Rep. Wintrow said. “Idaho Democrats are talking to voters all over the state and we are hearing that our communities need accessible coronavirus testing with faster results, increased funding to education to keep our children safe, meaningful property tax relief, and the resources to get our economy back on track. I appreciate that we may take steps to make voting in the upcoming election safer, but it’s disappointing that we are leaving everything else off the table. The special session will not make our communities safer and there are no proposals to help employees and businesses make ends meet in an economic crisis.”
“Health experts in Idaho and across the world have made it abundantly clear that large meetings indoors are one of the quickest ways to spread coronavirus. A special session will require legislators and staff from across the state to gather in an indoor space. There will be no mask requirement and there are very few precautions in place to reduce the spread of this highly-contagious, deadly virus. Legislators should not only be concerned about their own health and safety, but of their families and communities as well. We know that many of the individuals who test positive for coronavirus will never show symptoms. Idaho Democrats are deeply concerned that legislators are coming to Ada County, which has consistently been a coronavirus hot spot, and heading back to their districts. Unfortunately, the Idaho legislature is taking minimal precautions, and, in some cases, legislators will intentionally shirk their personal responsibility and choose not to wear masks, which could endanger other legislators and result in legislators bringing coronavirus back to their communities. It’s appalling that elected state leaders are being so cavalier about a deadly virus.”
“Many Idaho legislators are trying to politicize a virus and use it to increase their legislative power. The coronavirus knows no political party. Republican legislators have pressured the Governor to act against the best interest of Idahoans. He has bent to their will and the result is an unnecessary and dangerous political show in the form of a special session. The legislature is taking an enormous risk for the state and we are ignoring most of the recommendations and guidelines that health officials have formulated from their expertise and research on this virus. The reason behind putting Idahoans in danger by calling a special session is convoluted, and will only address a small fraction of the negative impacts of COVID-19. If we are going to take the risk, we should have at least tried to address the legitimate suffering that Idahoans are experiencing.”