Little received ample feedback on stay-home order from legislators. Here’s what they said

North Idaho GOP Rep. Heather Scott, a far-right activist who staunchly opposes the statewide stay-home order, publicly bashed the governor and his response to the coronavirus pandemic in a recent podcast interview.

During the April 16 hour-long interview on the Jess Fields Show, Scott chastised Gov. Brad Little for ordering non-essential businesses to temporarily close in an effort to stave off a coronavirus outbreak.

“I mean, that’s no different than the Nazi Germany where you had government telling people, ‘you are an essential worker or non-essential workers’. And the non-essential workers got put on a train,” Scott told Fields. “That’s crazy, and that’s when I said, ‘he can’t do that,’ and I checked with the constitution — I’m not a lawyer, but I checked with a constitutional lawyer and absolutely, he cannot, he cannot do that. ... He has no authority. The constitution gives him authority, it does not give him the authority to erase the constitution. You just can’t do it.”

Fields asked Scott why she thinks other Idaho lawmakers aren’t speaking out like she is.

“Because when you do, the New York Times writes a nasty article about you ... so legislators don’t like to put their heads out there because it is painful to stand up for the people,” she responded.

She said there are about 35 (of 70) House members “that would say, ‘OK, enough is enough. Stop destroying our economy.’”

At least three Republican lawmakers, Reps. Tammy Nichols of Middleton, Christy Zito of Hammett and Chad Christensen of Ammon, went public on Friday with their discontent by speaking at a “Disobey Idaho” protest at the Capitol in downtown Boise organized by far-right activist groups.

“We don’t want people sick and dying, that’s not what we are wanting, but we can’t sacrifice everybody because of it and that’s the unfortunate part,” Nichols told a crowd of several hundred gathered outside the Capitol.

“People get sick and die every day. It’s a natural part. We go out into the world and at any given moment, we could die. ... It is just how life works,” Nichols told the closely gathered — mostly maskless — protesters.

Idaho GOP Chairman Raul Labrador sent a letter on April 15 to party members stating the shutdown is taking an economic toll on the state, dire coronavirus predictions did not happen and it is time to “start reopening Idaho.”

At least one Republican lawmaker has publicly offered Little some support. Shortly after Little extended the shutdown two more weeks, Nampa Sen. Jeff Agenbroad sent out a news release.

“Like many of you, I am disappointed we are not able to lift the restrictions allowing people to return to work and begin getting back to normalcy,” Agenbroad stated. “Despite my disappointment, I stand with the governor as I know he and his team have looked at the situation from every angle and considered all possible options to control the COVID-19 pandemic and its effects on Idahoans.”

So what are Idaho other lawmakers telling the governor?

To find out, the Statesman asked the governor’s office for copies of all correspondence it has received from legislators regarding the shutdown and whether he should extend it, which he did on April 15.

While Scott has been vocal on social media and in interviews, apparently she has not sent Little a letter detailing her concerns. Nichols, Zito and other lawmakers, on the other hand, did write to the governor, some in support, some not.

Here’s some of what Little has heard from state lawmakers

These responses have been edited for length, but not for grammar or structure.

Rep. Judy Boyle, R, District 9, Midvale:

Any county who wishes to remain on lockdown can appeal to their elected county commissioners to do so. Authority should always rest with elected officials when stopping commerce & upending people’s lives.

Idahoans understand personal responsibility for their own health. Businesses can choose to place shields between the customer & the pay station. Restaurants can space out tables and the customers can choose if they want to enter and dine.

Government should not be involved in bankrupting small business and individuals. Stopping commerce and putting people out of work is doing more harm in the long run to the majority of people’s health & mental stability with the stress of losing their business, home, not being able to pay their bills. That stress can easily create bad situations in even a stable family.

I am not making light of those who have died. Having come within a whisper of dying twice, I greatly value life. But life cannot be lived in a bubble. Life itself is full of inherent risk. We all understand and accept that risk every day when we awake. Otherwise, we would never get out of bed.

Let our citizens make their own choices. That is what Freedom is all about. (April 14)

Sen. Sen. Michelle Stennett, D, District 26 (Blaine, Camas, Gooding, Lincoln counties) in response to Boyle:

Blaine County has the highest COVID cases per capita in the nation. Our doctors say that normally a flu/pneumonia transmission rate is 1 to 3, COVID is 1 to 6, nearly double.

Since most of my community knows someone who has died from this virus, we will not be cavalier in how we transition from our stay in place order. (April 14)

Rep. Tammy Nichols, R, District 11, (Canyon County):

Thank you for all that you and your staff are doing, your concern is greatly appreciated, but it is now time to reopen the state and get things functioning again.

People and businesses will not tolerate this much longer. Minds are already being changed, because of the lower than anticipated numbers both in the state and nation. The fear factor is lessening, and is now turned to the future and the economic impact of what has and will transpire.

Businesses and people can and will do the right thing when given the chance.

I have been on the phone, answering emails and talking directly with my constituents to address their concerns and help them since the session ended. They are begging to get back to life, and to be able to survive financially. I am also concerned with the stimulus package. The SBA is already close to being out of money, and many businesses are finding that they cannot qualify or securing a lending institution that will help them.

We cannot wait on a vaccine, there has never been a successful one for humans for any COVID related virus from what I am being told by doctors across the nation, so I do not feel that this is a doable achievement to wait for.

Quarantine the sick ... not the healthy. California and Texas are already entertaining this idea, Idaho should take the lead and do the same.

It is time to reopen Idaho and let people get back to work. (April 15)

Rep. Megan Blanksma, R, District 23 (Elmore, Owyhee, Twin Falls counties) and Central District Health Vice-chairwoman forwarded the governor a letter she sent to the health board’s director:

I think we are at the stage that public health districts need to take over the administration of the Covid-19 controls. It is very clear that the statewide stay in place order is no longer necessary. The entirety of the state in no way meets the existing CDC requirements for a stay at home order and in many parts of our state no cases even exist. Businesses should be open, and people should be able to go about their lives. We should be mindful that the controls that were put into place were done so under the “emergency,” clause, not under an “abundance of caution” clause. I think it is especially important that we keep this in the forefront going forward.

I agree that continuing to provide advice and education on social distancing and limiting group size is the right thing to do, particularly with regard to customer service and interaction in local businesses. Central District Health has been good at getting info out and trying to engage the public in how disease spread works. I think that is an important yet underrated message that we probably need to continue to share. The general populous needs to understand disease spread in a better way that would make any future pandemic more controllable.

I am continually concerned with the apparent lack of metrics and data involved with placing the original order. I would hope that, if handed the controls, Central District would have both a transparent control plan and an exit strategy. At this time, at the state level, here is no clear plan for lifting the order nor is there a plan post order. My expectation is that CDH can do better than this.

These are troubling times and answers don’t come easily. That being said, I have much better faith that conditions can be addressed at a local level rather than the statewide blanket that has been imposed.

Rep. Rod Furniss, R, District 35 (Butte, Clark, Fremont, Jefferson counties):

Capitalism should rule the day. Educate the public and let them physical distance accordingly and shop those businesses that adapt and deliver products and services using physical distancing. The consumer will make the right choice and the markets will dictate their success. We have not overwhelmed the medical system and what we have done has worked. Nothing is more creative than Idaho businesses. Now let’s give it a chance. May the Governor lift the order and extend caution so we can go back to work. (April 11)

Rep. Melissa Wintrow, D, District 19 (Ada County):

Along with the majority of my constituents, I want to applaud the Governor and his staff for seeking scientific and medical information about how to “flatten the curve” of infection and not overwhelm our health care system so we can get back to business in a safe way. I’m sure the Governor struggled over this decision; I have heard him time and again indicate that the most important thing is the health and safety of Idahoans, and we must use the best available scientific knowledge to make our decisions.

I know that we are proud of our businesses and pride ourselves on the free market, but this is a public health crisis that we must acknowledge can worsen if we do not stay vigilant and use the available modeling and scientific information to help make our decisions. We want to believe that everyone will follow advice and recommendations to keep each other safe, but this is a highly contagious virus that can bring even the strongest among us to our knees.

We need to look for a balanced approach to continue to bring the stressors down on the health care system and to stop the spread of this very deadly virus, and look towards what a healthy transition back to business will look like.

Rep. Christy Zito, R, District 23 (Elmore, Owyhee, Twin Falls counties):

I am writing you to express my concerns regarding the statewide shutdown. It appears that the state government has taken it upon itself to decide who should survive financially and who should not. As I interact with constituents of my district and this state I am seeing a growing frustration, from large and small business owners, and those employed by “non-essential” businesses.

While there are thousands in our state who are not able to work to feed their families, pay their rent, or meet other obligations, the state of Idaho continues to operate its liquor stores. The state of Idaho continues to sell lottery tickets. How are these services more essential than those provided by the many working-class Idahoans who have been put out of business?

Not only is this shutdown putting a financial burden on many Idahoans, there are also numerous people who are scared, who fear that life will never return to normal, that they will never be able to make up their lost income, and that they will fail their families.

In Idaho, we don’t appreciate politicians or bureaucrats running our lives. It was your promise to relieve the citizens of this state from the confines of the bureaucratic stronghold that your agencies placed on — once again — the hard-working families of this state. Now through the sweeping order from one of your bureaucratic agencies, we are facing unprecedented hardships and privations.

Governor Little, it is time to end this unmitigated disaster of a policy, step aside, and let our people get back to work. I am confident that Idahoans can exercise due caution to stop the spread of any disease, but we cannot allow people to lose their liberties and livelihoods. The risks of continuing this policy will be far more lasting and devastating than any disease. (April 14)

Sen. Grant Burgoyne, D, District 16, (Ada County):

Thank you for today’s announcement that you are “extending the statewide stay-home order to April 30, with exceptions for operations of formerly ‘non-essential’ businesses, facilities, and services and new restrictions related to nonresident travel into the state.

I believe your action is prudent and responsible. I also believe your decision to permit businesses to “offer curbside and delivery services between now and April 30” will provide an appropriate measure of economic relief to business and consumers.

Sen. Tony Wisnewski, R, District 3 (Kootenai County):

It is actually counterproductive to suppress the number of cases by drawing out the time frame of exposure. In the absence of a vaccine, the number of people acquiring the virus will be approximately the same whether the onset is rapid and short in duration, or the onset is suppressed and prolonged. The harsh reality is that people will develop immunity and recover or they will not. The high transmissibility of the virus will ensure that it will be around for some time. The latter scenario only delays the inevitable at a tremendous cost to the economy.

A great bit of advice comes from Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds, “People have to be responsible for themselves”.

We appreciate the cautious approach that your administration has taken to contain the spread of the virus, but it is time to ease up on the brakes. This needs to be done in a calculated, stepwise fashion. I cannot think of a better first step with minimal risk than to declare a reopening of the houses of worship with protective measures. Our spiritual health has been dwindling through this crisis. Passover and the Easter Season are upon us, and the public is ready for some long-awaited relief. (April 14)

Rep. Barbara Ehardt, R, District 33 (Bonneville County):

I think that legislators have been doing their best to support our Governor. But as the numbers indicate, the curve is more than flattened and the actual numbers both as a state and nation have proven to be terribly inconsistent.

All legislators are receiving great pressure “to do something” to help end this. It is assumed that we can call ourselves back into session and help the Governor. We know that we cannot. I honestly believe that all legislators want to be supportive of our Governor and they are also willing to share in the burden, should he be desirous to do that. This is an unprecedented issue. It is a huge responsibility. All actions will be criticized by someone! If he needs to, let him call the legislature back and let us share in this burden.

We have accomplished that which the Governor set out to do. Yes, there will yet be some tough times with a few rises in death as well as more examples of contracting the virus. But that’s okay. We will get through this. (April 13)

This story was originally published April 18, 2020 at 4:00 AM.