BOISE (AP) — While Idaho’s governor was out of the state, his second-in-command issued an executive order “fixing” his instruction on COVID-19 mandates and also took steps to send Idaho National Guard troops to the U.S.-Mexico border.
Gov. Brad Little, still in Texas, issued his own order Wednesday repealing the lieutenant governor’s action.
Under the state’s longstanding practice, Lt. Gov. Janice McGeachin became acting governor as soon as Little left the state.
Both Little and McGeachin are Republicans, but she is much further to the right — and she has announced she will seek the governor’s job in next year’s election.
On Tuesday, McGeachin issued an order declaring that all state agencies, including public K-12 schools and universities, would be prohibited from requiring proof of a COVID-19 vaccine or testing.
She said it would “fix” the state’s rules banning vaccine proof. Little’s original order, in April, was similar but did not include K-12 schools and did not ban mandatory testing.
Little’s statement Wednesday said a prohibition of mandatory testing would harm the state’s ability to curb the spread of COVID-19.
In the past seven days, Idaho has had the fourth-highest new case rate of any state, says the Centers for Disease Control. Its vaccination rate, 42%, is the second lowest.
Also Tuesday, McGeachin moved to activate Idaho National Guard troops to the U.S.-Mexico border. The commanding general rejected her request, saying no state on the border had requested such assistance.
After arriving in Texas, Little issued a statement saying: “Attempting to deploy our National Guard for political grandstanding is an affront to the Idaho constitution and insults the men and women who have dedicated their life to serving our state and the country.”
McGeachin tweeted that she had only “inquired as to the process for deployment.”
Little was in Texas for a meeting with nine other Republican governors over concerns about how President Joe Biden is handling border issues. He was expected back late Wednesday.
His executive order canceling McGeachin’s action states that he did not authorize her to act. It appears to lay the groundwork for a court challenge to determine who is in charge when the governor leaves the state.
It is not the first time McGeachin has taken such action. In May when Little was out of state, she issued an executive order banning mask mandates. Little reversed that when he returned, saying mask mandate decisions were best left to local officials. Little has never issued a mask mandate.
The governor and lieutenant governor do not run on the same ticket in Idaho.
Little, 67, a former lieutenant governor and Idaho senator, is in his first term as governor. He has not announced if he will seek re-election.
McGeachin, 58, was a member of the Idaho House of Representatives from 2002 to 2012.
Concerned about McGeachin’s candidacy, mainstream Republicans are asking Democrats and independents to register Republican so they can vote in the party’s gubernatorial primary.