Idaho resolution limiting executive powers

The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed Americans to an unprecedented level of government overreach.

Endless government lockdowns have challenged our most basic freedoms. Our rights of assembly have been cancelled, and our movements restricted. Free commerce has been stifled, causing skyrocketing unemployment. Small businesses have gone under, while the big-box stores have been granted a competitive advantage.

We’ve never seen a greater need to end government overreach. While the Convention of States continues to work towards this goal at a national level, we as Idahoans have a unique opportunity to take action within our state.

The Idaho legislature is currently debating legislation to:

• Declare that all Idahoans who work, provide for their families, and otherwise contribute to the Idaho economy be deemed essential in any declared emergency.
• Amend the state constitution to allow the legislature, under limited circumstances, to call itself back into session.
• Limit the length of any emergency declaration without consent of the legislature.
• Limit the emergency powers and spending authority of the executive branch without the consent of the legislature.
• Prohibit the quarantining of healthy individuals.
• Rescind existing emergency declarations.
• Review the authority of public health districts and local government subdivisions.

While we continue to support the need for executive action in times of emergency, these actions must be consistent with our values and constitutional rights. Further, these emergency powers cannot be open ended. With executive actions associated with the COVID-19 pandemic approaching the one-year mark, we believe this legislation is timely and appropriate.

Please contact your state legislators and express your support for this legislation. Contact information may be found at the official website of the Idaho Legislature.