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<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Open Sans""><img width="624" height="147" style="width:6.5in;height:1.5312in" id="_x0000_i1025" src="cid:image001.png@01D753AF.496336A0"></span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Open Sans""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Open Sans""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Open Sans"">FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Open Sans"">May 28, 2021<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Open Sans""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><u><span style="font-size:22.0pt;font-family:"Open Sans"">Gov. Little defends local control, denounces Lt. Governor’s irresponsible abuse of power<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Open Sans""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Open Sans"">Boise, Idaho – Governor Brad Little issued
<a href="https://gov.idaho.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/74/2021/05/eo-2021-08.pdf">
Executive Order 2021-08</a> today – “Repealing Executive Order 2021-07 to Restore Local Control” – and provided the following statement to the people of Idaho:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Open Sans""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left:.5in"><i><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Open Sans"">My fellow Idahoans.
<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left:.5in"><i><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Open Sans""><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left:.5in"><i><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Open Sans"">We could talk ‘til we’re blue in the face about masks and whether they work – whether mask
<b><u>mandates</u> </b>work – but I think the people of Idaho are tired of hearing about it.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left:.5in"><i><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Open Sans""><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left:.5in"><i><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Open Sans"">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.
<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left:.5in"><i><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Open Sans""><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left:.5in"><i><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Open Sans"">For the record, though, I have opposed a statewide mask
<b><u>mandate</u></b> all along because I don’t think top-down mandates change behavior the way personal choice does.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left:.5in"><i><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Open Sans""><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left:.5in"><i><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Open Sans"">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.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left:.5in"><i><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Open Sans""><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left:.5in"><i><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Open Sans"">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.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left:.5in"><i><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Open Sans""><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left:.5in"><i><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Open Sans"">The executive order unilaterally and unlawfully takes away authorities given to the state’s mayors, local school board trustees, and others.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left:.5in"><i><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Open Sans""><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left:.5in"><i><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Open Sans"">Just like the states begrudge federal government mandates, local governments in Idaho resent the state doing the same thing.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left:.5in"><i><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Open Sans""><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left:.5in"><i><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Open Sans"">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.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left:.5in"><i><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Open Sans""><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left:.5in"><i><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Open Sans"">The action that took place while I was traveling this week is not gubernatorial.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left:.5in"><i><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Open Sans""><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left:.5in"><i><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Open Sans"">The action that took place was an irresponsible, self-serving political stunt.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left:.5in"><i><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Open Sans""><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left:.5in"><i><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Open Sans"">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.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left:.5in"><i><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Open Sans""><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left:.5in"><i><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Open Sans"">This kind of over-the-top executive action amounts to tyranny – something we all oppose.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left:.5in"><i><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Open Sans""><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left:.5in"><i><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Open Sans"">How ironic that the action comes from a person who has groused about tyranny, executive overreach, and balance of power for months.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left:.5in"><i><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Open Sans""><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left:.5in"><i><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Open Sans"">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. <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left:.5in"><i><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Open Sans""><br>
The executive order also conflicts with other laws on the books.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left:.5in"><i><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Open Sans""><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left:.5in"><i><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Open Sans"">This is why you do your homework, Lt. Governor.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left:.5in"><i><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Open Sans""><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left:.5in"><i><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Open Sans"">Let me offer some advice as Idaho’s duly elected Governor – governing in a silo is NOT governing.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left:.5in"><b><i><u><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Open Sans""><o:p><span style="text-decoration:none"> </span></o:p></span></u></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left:.5in"><i><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Open Sans"">I am always reluctant to engage in political ploys, especially when I have been steadfast in meeting the simultaneous goals of protecting both lives
<b><u>and</u></b> livelihoods.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left:.5in"><i><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Open Sans""><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left:.5in"><i><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Open Sans"">I do not like petty politics. I do not like political stunts over the rule of law.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left:.5in"><i><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Open Sans""><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left:.5in"><i><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Open Sans"">However, the significant consequences of the Lt. Governor’s flimsy executive order require me to clean up a mess.
<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left:.5in"><i><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Open Sans""><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left:.5in"><i><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Open Sans"">With my own executive order today, I will be returning Idaho law to what it was before 11 a.m. on Thursday.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left:.5in"><i><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Open Sans""><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left:.5in"><i><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Open Sans"">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.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left:.5in"><i><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Open Sans""><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left:.5in"><i><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Open Sans"">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. <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left:.5in"><i><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Open Sans""><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left:.5in"><i><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Open Sans"">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.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left:.5in"><i><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Open Sans""><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left:.5in"><i><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Open Sans"">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.
<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left:.5in"><i><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Open Sans""><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left:.5in"><i><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Open Sans"">Few states can claim that kind of success.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left:.5in"><i><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Open Sans""><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left:.5in"><i><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Open Sans"">It is an honor for me to serve as your Governor, and I remain committed to working
<b><u>responsibly</u></b> to achieve our shared goal of making Idaho the place where our children and grandchildren choose to stay.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Open Sans""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Open Sans""># # #<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Open Sans""> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Open Sans"">NEWS MEDIA CONTACT: Marissa Morrison, Press Secretary<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Open Sans"">208-943-1686 or
</span><a href="mailto:marissa.morrison@gov.idaho.gov"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Open Sans"">marissa.morrison@gov.idaho.gov</span></a><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Open Sans"">
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Open Sans"">--<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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