From id_gov_news at gov.idaho.gov Mon Jan 4 12:05:08 2021 From: id_gov_news at gov.idaho.gov (Gov. Brad Little) Date: Mon, 4 Jan 2021 19:05:08 +0000 Subject: =?Windows-1252?Q?Governor_Brad_Little=92s_calendar_for_the_week_of_Januar?= =?Windows-1252?Q?y_4-8?= Message-ID: [cid:image003.png at 01D6E291.D7812A30] FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 4, 2021 Included below is information on some of the public events on Governor Brad Little?s calendar for the week of January 4-8. All times local. TUESDAY, January 5, 2021 Governor Little will host a statewide AARP telephone town hall to provide information and answer questions regarding COVID-19 in Idaho. The hour-long conversation begins at 12 p.m. Participants can join by dialing toll-free 866-767-0637 or register in advance by visiting https://vekeo.com/aarpidaho/. Governor Little will join Idaho Department of Health & Welfare Director Dave Jeppesen, and Public Health Administrator Elke Shaw-Tulloch to offer brief remarks and an update on the status of COVID-19 vaccine in Idaho at 2:30 p.m. The general public can join the briefing in listen/watch-only mode by selecting this link: https://idhw.webex.com/idhw/onstage/g.php?MTID=e2cccf5a363cfc1e7654e8fb651232869 WEDNESDAY, January 6, 2021 Governor Little will provide virtual remarks during the Boise Young Professionals Lunch & Learn event at 12 p.m. Register online at: https://www.boiseyp.org/events/2021/1/6/january-lunch-and-learn-an-hour-with-governor-little # # # NEWS MEDIA CONTACT: Marissa Morrison Hyer, Press Secretary 208-943-1686 or Marissa.Morrison at gov.idaho.gov -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image003.png Type: image/png Size: 68980 bytes Desc: image003.png URL: From id_gov_news at gov.idaho.gov Mon Jan 4 12:21:29 2021 From: id_gov_news at gov.idaho.gov (Gov. Brad Little) Date: Mon, 4 Jan 2021 19:21:29 +0000 Subject: Division of Veterans Services chief retires, interim replacement named Message-ID: [cid:image001.png at 01D6E290.7ACE3270] FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 4, 2021 Division of Veterans Services chief retires, interim replacement named Boise, Idaho ? Governor Brad Little announced today that Marv Hagedorn is retiring as chief administrator of the Idaho Division of Veterans Services (IDVS) and Pete Koehler will step in as interim chief administrator until a replacement is selected. Hagedorn will continue to serve in an advisory and consulting role for IDVS. Koehler is an Idaho native and Army veteran who served 21 years and retired as a Lieutenant Colonel. After his military retirement, Koehler was a school administrator who served at the State Department of Education and in the Nampa School District. The IDVS provides long-term care for Idaho State Veterans Home residents and offers advocacy and benefit assistance for Idaho veterans and their families, along with education and training programs for veterans. ?I appreciate Marv for his service to Idaho and our country in the U.S. Navy, and I wish him well in his retirement. Pete?s leadership skills and background make him a good fit to lead the Division of Veterans Services while we seek a replacement. Idaho honors its veterans, and the division plays a critical role in supporting our veterans who have served all of us,? Governor Little said. # # # ? NEWS MEDIA CONTACT: Marissa Morrison Hyer, Press Secretary 208-943-1686 or marissa.morrison at gov.idaho.gov -- Sign up to receive news from Governor Little Reply to this e-mail to unsubscribe -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image001.png Type: image/png Size: 43502 bytes Desc: image001.png URL: From id_gov_news at gov.idaho.gov Tue Jan 5 12:13:00 2021 From: id_gov_news at gov.idaho.gov (Gov. Brad Little) Date: Tue, 5 Jan 2021 19:13:00 +0000 Subject: Governor Little appoints Judge Cynthia Yee-Wallace to Fourth Judicial District Message-ID: [cid:image001.png at 01D6E290.7ACE3270] FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 5, 2021 Governor Little appoints Judge Cynthia Yee-Wallace to Fourth Judicial District Boise, Idaho ? Governor Brad Little announced today the appointment of Cynthia Yee-Wallace as District Judge to the Fourth Judicial District Court. ?Yee-Wallace is highly regarded as a genuine and dedicated legal professional,? Governor Little said. ?I have no doubt she will serve the people of Idaho?s Fourth Judicial District with the utmost expertise, compassion, and respect for the law.? Yee-Wallace spent almost nine years in private practice before becoming a Deputy Attorney General in 2012. She received her undergraduate and law degree from the University of Idaho. "I thank Governor Little for the honor of appointing me to this position,? Yee-Wallace said. ?I will faithfully serve Idaho?s citizens through unyielding fairness to the parties and attorneys who appear before me, as well as humility in the discharge of my duties.? The Fourth Judicial District includes Ada, Boise, Elmore, and Valley Counties. # # # NEWS MEDIA CONTACT: Marissa Morrison, Press Secretary 208-943-1686 or Marissa.Morrison at gov.idaho.gov -- Sign up to receive news from Governor Little Reply to this e-mail to unsubscribe -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image001.png Type: image/png Size: 43502 bytes Desc: image001.png URL: From id_gov_news at gov.idaho.gov Fri Jan 8 17:41:28 2021 From: id_gov_news at gov.idaho.gov (Gov. Brad Little) Date: Sat, 9 Jan 2021 00:41:28 +0000 Subject: =?Windows-1252?Q?Governor_Brad_Little=92s_calendar_for_the_week_of_Januar?= =?Windows-1252?Q?y_11-15?= Message-ID: [cid:image001.png at 01D6E5E5.7D1F8EE0] FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 8, 2021 Included below is information on some of the public events on Governor Brad Little?s calendar for the week of January 11-15. All times local. MONDAY, January 11, 2021 Governor Little will deliver the State of the State and Budget Address at 1 p.m. The public can view the address on Idaho Public Television (.1) and online. # # # NEWS MEDIA CONTACT: Marissa Morrison Hyer, Press Secretary 208-943-1686 or Marissa.Morrison at gov.idaho.gov -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image001.png Type: image/png Size: 68980 bytes Desc: image001.png URL: From id_gov_news at gov.idaho.gov Mon Jan 11 14:53:07 2021 From: id_gov_news at gov.idaho.gov (Gov. Brad Little) Date: Mon, 11 Jan 2021 21:53:07 +0000 Subject: Gov. Little highlights plan for tax relief, strategic investments in 2021 State of the State and Budget Address Message-ID: [cid:image001.png at 01D6E806.2E690290] FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 11, 2021 Gov. Little highlights plan for tax relief, strategic investments in 2021 State of the State and Budget Address Boise, Idaho - During his State of the State and Budget Address today, Governor Brad Little reflected on the events in Washington, D.C., last week and the historic year before detailing his plan to put more money back in the pockets of Idahoans while making strategic investments to propel Idaho even further ahead in prosperity. Idaho's responsible approach to governing, strong economy, and quick action during the pandemic have resulted in a record (amount) surplus in the state budget, while other states face budget cuts of 20- to 40-percent and more. "Together, we laid the groundwork before the pandemic to rebound quickly during tough times, proving once again that conservative principles of governing bring opportunity for our citizens during the highs and the lows," Governor Little said. Governor Little's "Building Idaho's Future" plan provides tax relief and makes strategic investments where they count. The components of the plan include: * TAX RELIEF: Governor Little proposes more than $450 million in tax relief, among the single largest tax cuts in Idaho history. His plan includes $295 million in one-time tax relief. He is also proposing $160 million in permanent tax cuts to boost Idahoans' prosperity while keep our tax rates competitive and our business climate vibrant. * TRANSPORTATION: Governor Little proposes $126 million in state and local highway infrastructure projects to help preserve one of our citizens' most precious commodities: their time. He proposes $80 million in new ongoing transportation funding because he said "we cannot ignore a growing problem that steals Idahoans' time and threatens their safety and our economic prosperity. We must act now." * EDUCATION: Governor Little proposes investments in literacy to close achievement gaps that widened for some students during the pandemic. His plan invests in higher education and career technical education training programs across Idaho. * LAW ENFORCEMENT: Governor Little's plan invests in the items necessary to support frontline personnel at the Idaho State Police and training for our local frontline police officers. "While other states seek to defund the police, I am proud to say that Idaho DEFENDS the police. Idaho 'backs the blue.'" * BROADBAND: Following $50 million broadband infrastructure investments last year, Governor Little's plan continues the momentum with $35 million for new investments in internet connectivity for underserved areas to improve commerce, economic growth, and education. * WATER AND AGRICULTURE: Governor Little's plan supports major water infrastructure projects and needed projects for agriculture and outdoor recreation. * SMALL BUSINESS: Governor Little proposes more support for small businesses in Idaho, on top of the $300 million in direct support for small businesses last year. * CRIMINAL JUSTICE INVESTMENTS AND CAPITAL CONSTRUCTION: Governor Little's plan keeps us on a path to safer communities and taxpayer savings by making strategic investments in overdue needs in our criminal justice system, to break the expensive revolving door of repeat offenders. Other funds will catch up on the backlog of deferred maintenance in state buildings and address other needs. Beyond his "Building Idaho's Future" plan, Governor Little is proposing a "no frills" budget for Fiscal Year 2022 that leaves a prudent surplus, bolsters rainy-day funds, and reflects his continued priority on education, including our valuable teachers. His budget fully implements the historic $250 million investment in the career ladder. To ease citizen participation in government and boost confidence in state government, Governor Little is also proposing the establishment of a new online one stop shop for Idahoans to access public meeting information for any state entity. State Controller Brandon Woolf would administer the new online resource for civic engagement. The ongoing growth in the state budget - just 3.8-percent - is among the most conservative in years. "Our commitment to conservative budgeting and quick action during the pandemic are the reasons Idaho is excelling while other states' economies and state budgets are pummeled," Governor Little said. A summary of Governor Little's "Building Idaho's Future" plan is available here. A full list of Governor Little's FY22 budget priorities is available here. The full text of his 2021 State of the State and Budget Address is here. # # # NEWS MEDIA CONTACT: Marissa Morrison, Press Secretary 208-943-1686 or marissa.morrison at gov.idaho.gov -- Sign up to receive news from Governor Little Reply to this e-mail to unsubscribe -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image001.png Type: image/png Size: 43502 bytes Desc: image001.png URL: From id_gov_news at gov.idaho.gov Mon Jan 11 15:45:30 2021 From: id_gov_news at gov.idaho.gov (Gov. Brad Little) Date: Mon, 11 Jan 2021 22:45:30 +0000 Subject: Governor Little to provide COVID-19 Vaccine update Message-ID: [cid:image003.png at 01D6E830.C93953E0] FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 11, 2021 Governor Little to provide COVID-19 Vaccine update Boise, Idaho - Governor Brad Little will deliver a message to the people of Idaho on the COVID-19 vaccine at 2:20 p.m. MT on Tuesday, January 12, 2021. The Governor's message will be available to watch on Idaho Public Television (.1) and online. # # # NEWS MEDIA CONTACT: Marissa Morrison, Press Secretary 208-943-1686 or Marissa.Morrison at gov.idaho.gov -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image003.png Type: image/png Size: 67670 bytes Desc: image003.png URL: From id_gov_news at gov.idaho.gov Tue Jan 12 14:33:12 2021 From: id_gov_news at gov.idaho.gov (Gov. Brad Little) Date: Tue, 12 Jan 2021 21:33:12 +0000 Subject: Gov. Little updates Idahoans on COVID-19 vaccine rollout Message-ID: [cid:image001.png at 01D6E8E7.E7F1EF10] FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 12, 2021 Gov. Little updates Idahoans on COVID-19 vaccine rollout Boise, Idaho - Governor Brad Little announced today four key updates on the distribution of COVID-19 vaccines across Idaho. "Our goal with vaccine planning and distribution is, in part, to reduce transmission and preserve a functioning healthcare system - and get back to normal as quickly as possible," Governor Little said. "Idaho is administering the vaccine faster than the national average, and today I'm announcing strategies that will continue to advance us by building up provider capacity and increasing access, and efficiently and effectively getting Idaho's workforce and most high-risk individuals vaccinated." First, Governor Little assured Idahoans that vaccines are being administered safely and successfully in Idaho. The State of Idaho accepts all doses as soon as they are allocated by the federal government. All doses are then shipped directly from the manufacturer to local public health districts and healthcare providers. Since mid-December, more than 33,000 long-term care facility staff and residents and healthcare workers have received vaccines. "We plan to accelerate the pace while ensuring a sustainable cadence of vaccination moving forward," Governor Little said. The Governor also distinguished the role of government versus the role of providers, saying, "The State of Idaho gets the doses and the resources to the providers, and the providers get the shots in the arms of people who want it." Second, Governor Little assured providers there are ample resources available to them to get vaccinations administered as quickly as possible. The State of Idaho has received millions of dollars to ensure the efficient rollout of vaccine in our state, and there are no resource barriers. Governor Little said the State of Idaho will roll out a new plan to hundreds of hospitals, pharmacies, local public health districts, and other providers in the coming days to ensure providers have financial support to administer the shots as quickly as possible so we can build up capacity and get more Idahoans vaccinated. Third, Governor Little said a new dashboard is available at Coronavirus.Idaho.Gov to shine light on vaccine distribution in Idaho. The Vaccine Data Dashboard shows the total number of people vaccinated by county. Additionally, the dashboard is being built to show how many doses have been shipped to each county as well so providers and the public can compare doses shipped versus doses administered in their county. "This is another step in Idaho's commitment to transparency throughout the pandemic," Governor Little said. Fourth, Governor Little shared his decision that he is adopting the recommendation of the COVID-19 Vaccine Advisory Committee to open up the next phase of vaccine rollout to teachers, frontline workers, and Idahoans aged 65 and over. This will include an estimated 500,000 Idahoans. Governor Little said he will prioritize teachers, school staff, first responders, and some other frontline workers between Jan. 13-31 before making doses available to the 65-and-up population. "The 65-and-older population is enormous, and there is still work actively being done to build up capacity among our providers to take on this population. We do not want to create a bubble or backlog. Once we get a handle on capacity, we will be able to get to the 65-and-older population," Governor Little said. Governor Little also said the health of our teachers is paramount to ensuring students can learn in the classroom, where they deserve to be. Idahoans aged 65-and-older will be able to access vaccinations between Feb. 1-15. Idahoans are encouraged to contact their local public health district for information about where to access a vaccination. Additional resources on the COVID-19 vaccine rollout is available at https://coronavirus.idaho.gov/covid-19-vaccine/. # # # NEWS MEDIA CONTACT: Marissa Morrison, Press Secretary 208-943-1686 or marissa.morrison at gov.idaho.gov -- Sign up to receive news from Governor Little Reply to this e-mail to unsubscribe -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image001.png Type: image/png Size: 43502 bytes Desc: image001.png URL: From id_gov_news at gov.idaho.gov Fri Jan 15 11:00:25 2021 From: id_gov_news at gov.idaho.gov (Gov. Brad Little) Date: Fri, 15 Jan 2021 18:00:25 +0000 Subject: =?Windows-1252?Q?Gov._Brad_Little=92s_calendar_for_the_week_of_January_18?= =?Windows-1252?Q?-22?= In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: [cid:image001.png at 01D6E5E5.7D1F8EE0] FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 15, 2021 Included below is information on some of the public events on Governor Brad Little?s calendar for the week of January 18-22. All times local. TUESDAY, January 19, 2021 Governor Little will chair the State Board of Land Commissioners virtual meeting at 9 a.m. MT. Participation details available at https://www.idl.idaho.gov/. The meeting will be streamed live via Idaho Public Television and Facebook at the following links: https://www.idahoptv.org/shows/idahoinsession/ and https://www.facebook.com/IdahoDepartmentofLands Governor Little will host a statewide AARP telephone town hall to provide information and answer questions regarding COVID-19 in Idaho. The hour-long conversation begins at 12 p.m. MT. Participants can join by dialing toll-free 866-767-0637 or register in advance by visiting https://vekeo.com/aarpidaho/. # # # NEWS MEDIA CONTACT: Marissa Morrison Hyer, Press Secretary 208-943-1686 or Marissa.Morrison at gov.idaho.gov -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image001.png Type: image/png Size: 68980 bytes Desc: image001.png URL: From id_gov_news at gov.idaho.gov Tue Jan 19 11:47:58 2021 From: id_gov_news at gov.idaho.gov (Gov. Brad Little) Date: Tue, 19 Jan 2021 18:47:58 +0000 Subject: Gov. Little accelerates COVID-19 vaccine administration across Idaho Message-ID: [cid:image001.png at 01D6EE58.EDEF1610] FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 19, 2021 Gov. Little accelerates COVID-19 vaccine administration across Idaho Boise, Idaho - Governor Brad Little announced today he will seek to increase the number of available Idaho National Guard personnel from 250 to 400 guardsmen later this week to aid in Idaho's pandemic response. The additional guardsmen will assist in vaccine distribution. "Our women and men in the Idaho National Guard have stepped in to meet critical needs at healthcare facilities across Idaho since the fall, and the availability of additional guardsmen to assist with vaccine distribution moving forward will help us even more in the pandemic fight," Governor Little said. Governor Little also announced today the State of Idaho will offer healthcare providers new grants to more quickly administer the safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine across the state. "The safe and efficient administration of the COVID-19 vaccine in Idaho is my number one priority," Governor Little said. "The State of Idaho ensures available doses are sent directly to healthcare providers, but the providers are the ones to get the shots in the arms of people who want it. We are actively working to ensure there are absolutely no resource barriers for providers in performing this critical role." The new COVID-19 Vaccine Capacity, Safety, and Reporting Grants can be used by enrolled vaccine provider organizations to increase staffing to administer shots, purchase needed equipment and supplies, and improve vaccine access for hard-to-reach and vulnerable populations. The amount each enrolled healthcare vaccine provider will receive is based on the number of doses they administer. "Since the start of vaccine distribution in our state, Idaho has had a strong safety record and we will continue to make safety a priority as we work to accelerate the administration of doses," Governor Little said. The State of Idaho is receiving a disproportionately lower share of vaccine compared to other states because the federal government is not allocating vaccine on a per capita basis. The federal government allocates doses to the state. The State of Idaho accepts all doses as soon as they are allocated. All doses are shipped directly from the manufacturer to local public health districts and healthcare providers. However, there will always be a lag in the number of doses Idaho has received and the number of doses administered because providers must be enrolled in the vaccine program and have received the training needed as well as have plans in place to properly administer it. They also must administer vaccine by appointment, which takes time and preparation. The new grants will shorten the time difference between when providers receive doses and when they administer them. The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare will communicate directly with healthcare providers today with the details of the new grants, and all available forms for providers to fill out will be posted later today at https://coronavirus.idaho.gov/covid-19-vaccine/. # # # NEWS MEDIA CONTACT: Marissa Morrison, Press Secretary 208-943-1686 or marissa.morrison at gov.idaho.gov -- Sign up to receive news from Governor Little Reply to this e-mail to unsubscribe -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image001.png Type: image/png Size: 43502 bytes Desc: image001.png URL: From id_gov_news at gov.idaho.gov Wed Jan 20 16:27:06 2021 From: id_gov_news at gov.idaho.gov (Gov. Brad Little) Date: Wed, 20 Jan 2021 23:27:06 +0000 Subject: High school athletic plan to include more spectators at sporting events Message-ID: [cid:image001.png at 01D6EF49.166CD2D0] FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 20, 2021 High school athletic plan to include more spectators at sporting events Boise, Idaho - Following a weeks-long decrease in statewide COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations, Governor Brad Little announced today that he is instructing the State Board of Education to revise its high school athletic plan to allow more spectators at sporting events. "All of our decisions related to the Idaho Rebounds plan have been rooted in detailed metrics related to virus activity and impacts on our health care system. Thanks to the good actions of the people of Idaho to slow the spread of the virus in our communities, we are seeing a continued decrease in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations," Governor Little said. All Idahoans, including participants and spectators at sporting events, are reminded that in order to keep these activities as open as possible, the continued good practices of social distancing, mask wearing, and hand sanitization are strongly encouraged. Details will be provided in the plan. The State Board of Education will announce specific details about changes to the plan in the coming days. # # # NEWS MEDIA CONTACT: Marissa Morrison, Press Secretary 208-943-1686 or marissa.morrison at gov.idaho.gov -- Sign up to receive news from Governor Little Reply to this e-mail to unsubscribe -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image001.png Type: image/png Size: 43502 bytes Desc: image001.png URL: From id_gov_news at gov.idaho.gov Thu Jan 21 13:03:39 2021 From: id_gov_news at gov.idaho.gov (Gov. Brad Little) Date: Thu, 21 Jan 2021 20:03:39 +0000 Subject: LINE Commission to meet Jan. 27 Message-ID: [cid:image003.png at 01D69BD5.B34BB1B0] FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 21, 2021 LINE Commission to meet Jan. 27 Boise, Idaho - The Leadership in Nuclear Energy (LINE) Commission will meet virtually Jan. 27 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. MT. The commission makes recommendations to the Governor on policies and actions of the State of Idaho to support and enhance the long-term viability and mission of the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) and other nuclear industries in Idaho. "There is an incredible opportunity for Idaho, its businesses, and its institutions of higher learning to lead our nation and the globe in pushing the new frontiers of safe, clean nuclear energy development," Governor Little said. "The LINE Commission remains dedicated to advising us so we can promote the advancement of nuclear energy and ensure the vitality of the INL." The full list of presenters, meeting agenda and participation details are available at https://line.idaho.gov/. # # # NEWS MEDIA CONTACT: Marissa Morrison Hyer, Press Secretary 208-943-1686 or Marissa.Morrison at gov.idaho.gov -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image003.png Type: image/png Size: 49258 bytes Desc: image003.png URL: From id_gov_news at gov.idaho.gov Fri Jan 22 08:52:05 2021 From: id_gov_news at gov.idaho.gov (Gov. Brad Little) Date: Fri, 22 Jan 2021 15:52:05 +0000 Subject: Governor Little to make announcement regarding COVID-19 Emergency Message-ID: [cid:image003.png at 01D6F09B.DC4F25E0] FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 22, 2021 Governor Little to make announcement regarding COVID-19 Emergency Boise, Idaho - Governor Brad Little will make an announcement regarding the COVID-19 emergency on Friday, January 22, 2021 at 12 p.m. MT. The announcement will be broadcast on Idaho Public Television (.1) and online. # # # NEWS MEDIA CONTACT: Marissa Morrison Hyer, Press Secretary 208-943-1686 or Marissa.Morrison at gov.idaho.gov -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image003.png Type: image/png Size: 68980 bytes Desc: image003.png URL: From id_gov_news at gov.idaho.gov Fri Jan 22 12:21:51 2021 From: id_gov_news at gov.idaho.gov (Gov. Brad Little) Date: Fri, 22 Jan 2021 19:21:51 +0000 Subject: =?Windows-1252?Q?Idaho_Legislature's_actions_threaten_vaccine_rollout_and?= =?Windows-1252?Q?_Idaho=92s_prosperity?= Message-ID: [Graphical user interface, application Description automatically generated] FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 22, 2021 Idaho Legislature?s actions threaten vaccine rollout and Idaho?s prosperity By Governor Brad Little My fellow Idahoans, throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, 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 while the pandemic response has not been perfect, I do believe we achieved a balance. How can we tell? Because we have managed to prevent a crisis in our hospitals, and we have kept our state open longer than almost every other state. Because now, thanks to quick action during the pandemic, Idaho has the strongest economy in the nation and the most financially solvent state budget. With our record budget surplus, we are poised to provide Idahoans historic tax relief and make strategic investments in ?Building Idaho?s Future,? for us and our children. Few states can claim that kind of success. We are in the final lap of the pandemic fight and the finish line is close. We are so close to returning to normal. But all that success is threatened by the actions taking place in the Legislature right now. Every single state has active emergency declarations in place to respond to COVID-19. President Trump issued two emergency declarations that remain in effect today. When the Teton Dam broke in 1976, during the 1996 Panhandle Flood, whenever there is a devastating wildfire, we initiate an emergency declaration at the request of local communities so Idaho can access critical federal resources ? resources we all pay for ? to overcome the impacts of the crisis. Every time, we have used emergency declarations appropriately. COVID-19 is no different. An emergency is ?a serious, unexpected, and often dangerous situation requiring immediate action.? Let me be clear ? undeniably, COVID-19 is an emergency. Hundreds of Idahoans have died and many more have been horribly sick. Many Idahoans still face that same terrible risk. The COVID-19 emergency declaration was requested by Idaho communities and it is critical in order for Idaho to receive federal assistance ? your taxpayer dollars ? to manage this crisis. The COVID-19 emergency declaration has enabled us to quickly cut red tape and increase health care access. These are facts. Here is the myth: the emergency declaration somehow shuts down Idaho or takes away your rights. That is patently false. Amazingly, some in the Idaho Legislature are perpetuating that myth and actively seeking to end Idaho?s COVID-19 emergency declaration. What does that mean for you, the citizens of Idaho? It means less vaccine. More taxes. And more red tape. It means the vaccine roll out is jeopardized ? something that is unacceptable in this final stretch of our pandemic fight. It means cities and counties will have to find the funds from you to pay for the equipment and support they need to battle COVID-19 in your community. It means hospitals could lose access to critical supplies. It means we lose the funding to utilize the Idaho National Guard to support testing, vaccine distribution, food banks, and medical facilities ? something that has been a game changer in the pandemic fight. It means we cannot cut red tape and break down regulatory hurdles that stand in the way of better health care access. It means your federal taxpayer dollars would go to California, New York, and other states. It means this terrible pandemic and the disruption to our lives will be extended, not ended. Some members of the Idaho Legislature are seeking political gain by perpetuating misinformation about emergency declarations. They are playing politics, and unfortunately the loser in this shameful game will be you ? the citizens of Idaho. Members of the Idaho House admit they are not sure of the financial impact of ending the emergency declaration. Why, then, would you move forward with such a damaging move for our citizens, one that will cost Idaho taxpayers tens of millions of dollars? The Idaho Senate has made it clear they understand the importance of continuing to access federal assistance to overcome the crisis. Why, then, are you intent on moving forward with an action that will have the opposite effect? I want the people of Idaho to know that I have explained to legislators for months the importance of the emergency declaration and the reasoning behind all the decisions related to the pandemic response. I have sought their input and applied their advice to the state?s response. I want the people of Idaho to know I am firm in my assertion that the actions of the Idaho Legislature severely jeopardize our ability to roll out vaccine and bring the pandemic to an end in Idaho. As I have stated over and over, the ?no action? alternative has never been an option. Pretending there is no COVID-19 emergency ? as some in the Idaho Legislature are doing right now ? will have devastating impacts on lives, our healthcare heroes who are protecting families, and our economy. Those who know me know that I greatly value my legislative partners. Cooperation between the executive and legislative branches is required ? and expected ? for those of us in elected office to best serve the people of Idaho. However, the seriousness of this situation demands that I speak up. I believe in my heart that what the Idaho Legislature is doing is harmful to our people and wrong for Idaho. I urge my partners in the Legislature to stop the political games and do what is right for the people of Idaho. Abandon the myth that the emergency declaration somehow shuts down Idaho. Abandon the myth that the emergency declaration somehow infringes on our rights. Abandon these irresponsible attempts to undo Idaho?s emergency declaration ? an action that only puts the lives and livelihoods of our families and neighbors in jeopardy. I don?t want to be doing this. I don?t want us to focus all this energy on the past 11 months. I want us to focus on the future. We have a bright path ahead of us. Idaho?s economy and state budget are outperforming every other state. We have the strongest economy and the most financially solvent state budget. We have stayed open longer than almost every other state. We absolutely would not be in this phenomenal position right now if we did not have the emergency declarations, if we were not able to act quickly during the darkest months of our pandemic fight. To the people of Idaho, I am asking for your help to finish this fight. Please, join me. Tell your legislators not to take away one of our strongest tools to end this pandemic. Tell them Idahoans? lives and livelihoods depend on it. Idaho, I will continue to work hard for you and make responsible decisions that help us get through this crisis together. Throughout the pandemic I have endeavored to protect you, your loved ones, and our economic prosperity. I will never relent in that pursuit. # # # 1,141 words -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image001.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 10484 bytes Desc: image001.jpg URL: From id_gov_news at gov.idaho.gov Fri Jan 22 15:32:48 2021 From: id_gov_news at gov.idaho.gov (Gov. Brad Little) Date: Fri, 22 Jan 2021 22:32:48 +0000 Subject: =?Windows-1252?Q?Governor_Brad_Little=92s_calendar_for_the_week_of_Januar?= =?Windows-1252?Q?y_25-29?= Message-ID: [cid:image001.png at 01D6F0D3.D6069690] FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 22, 2021 Included below is information on some of the public events on Governor Brad Little?s calendar for the week of January 25-29. All times local. MONDAY, January 25, 2021 Governor Little will provide opening remarks at the North Fork Payette River Watershed Summit at 10 a.m. Participants can register at: https://valleyswcd.org/watershed-summit/ # # # NEWS MEDIA CONTACT: Marissa Morrison Hyer, Press Secretary 208-943-1686 or Marissa.Morrison at gov.idaho.gov -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image001.png Type: image/png Size: 68980 bytes Desc: image001.png URL: From id_gov_news at gov.idaho.gov Wed Jan 27 12:27:38 2021 From: id_gov_news at gov.idaho.gov (Gov. Brad Little) Date: Wed, 27 Jan 2021 19:27:38 +0000 Subject: Governor Little to hold press conference regarding COVID-19 Vaccine Message-ID: [cid:image001.png at 01D6F4A7.CC2FF8A0] FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 27, 2021 Governor Little to hold press conference regarding COVID-19 Vaccine Boise, Idaho - Governor Brad Little will hold a virtual press conference regarding the distribution and administration of the COVID-19 vaccine on Thursday, January 28, from 1:00 to 1:30 p.m. MT. The announcement will be broadcast to the public online. Media requiring access should RSVP to Marissa Morrison Hyer. # # # NEWS MEDIA CONTACT: Marissa Morrison Hyer, Press Secretary 208-943-1686 or Marissa.Morrison at gov.idaho.gov -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image001.png Type: image/png Size: 68980 bytes Desc: image001.png URL: From id_gov_news at gov.idaho.gov Thu Jan 28 13:01:48 2021 From: id_gov_news at gov.idaho.gov (Gov. Brad Little) Date: Thu, 28 Jan 2021 20:01:48 +0000 Subject: Gov. Little signs executive order to speed up safe vaccine rollout, promote transparency in vaccine administration Message-ID: [cid:image001.png at 01D6F569.2917B8C0] FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 28, 2021 Gov. Little signs executive order to speed up safe vaccine rollout, promote transparency in vaccine administration Boise, Idaho - Governor Brad Little signed a new executive order today requiring local public health districts and healthcare providers to regularly report the number of vaccine doses they have been allocated, how many shots they have given, and how many doses they have in inventory, to ensure vaccine is getting out in a timely fashion. The Governor's "Transparency in the Administration of the COVID-19 Vaccine" executive order is available here. "Safety and transparency are paramount in the rollout of COVID-19 vaccine in Idaho," Governor Little said. "We owe it to Idahoans to get shots in the arms of people who want it within seven days of doses coming into Idaho. Using the information that will be available through my executive order, we will be able to tell if a provider is not administering their allocated doses quickly enough so we can step in to help speed things up." Governor Little said he will review the information daily to ensure doses are distributed equitably across Idaho and that providers and local public health districts have operations in place to be able to give shots within seven days of the doses arriving. The new information will be publicly available for Idahoans to view online by Feb. 8 at https://coronavirus.idaho.gov/. Governor Little also urged patience among Idahoans when the 65-and-older population can begin making appointments on Feb. 1 to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. "I want to be clear - there is still a big gap between supply and demand at this point. The senior population in Idaho includes more than 265,000 people. Idaho is receiving 24,000 first doses per week. Based on our current allocation, it could take nearly two months for eligible people to receive their first dose," Governor Little said. "So I ask, please be patient." Governor Little also said he is pressing the Biden Administration to make sure Idaho receives more doses of vaccine as quickly as the supply chain ramps up. Over the past 45 days, more than 89,000 Idahoans have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. # # # NEWS MEDIA CONTACT: Marissa Morrison, Press Secretary 208-943-1686 or marissa.morrison at gov.idaho.gov -- Sign up to receive news from Governor Little Reply to this e-mail to unsubscribe -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image001.png Type: image/png Size: 43502 bytes Desc: image001.png URL: From id_gov_news at gov.idaho.gov Fri Jan 29 15:01:51 2021 From: id_gov_news at gov.idaho.gov (Gov. Brad Little) Date: Fri, 29 Jan 2021 22:01:51 +0000 Subject: New online tool helps Idahoans learn when, where to receive COVID-19 vaccine Message-ID: [cid:image001.png at 01D6F64F.AB8B4A10] FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 29, 2021 New online tool helps Idahoans learn when, where to receive COVID-19 vaccine Boise, Idaho - Governor Brad Little announced today the State of Idaho launched a new COVID-19 vaccination information web page to help Idahoans more easily find information on when and where to get vaccinated and what to expect when they get to their appointment. The new web page is https://healthandwelfare.idaho.gov/covid-19-vaccination. "The rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine in Idaho is my number one priority, and we are doing everything we can to get people vaccinated as safely, quickly, fairly, and transparently as possible," Governor Little said. Local public health districts are responsible for implementing vaccination plans, and enrolled COVID-19 vaccine provider information is on each public health district website, but the new resource offers just one place where all Idahoans can find out when they are eligible to receive the vaccine and where to access enrolled COVID-19 vaccine providers in their area. The page also tells Idahoans which priority groups, by occupation and age, are next in line for the vaccine. The new web page can also be accessed at https://coronavirus.idaho.gov/covid-19-vaccine/, which will continue to be a source of information about the COVID-19 vaccine as well. # # # NEWS MEDIA CONTACT: Marissa Morrison, Press Secretary 208-943-1686 or marissa.morrison at gov.idaho.gov -- Sign up to receive news from Governor Little Reply to this e-mail to unsubscribe -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... 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