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BOISE, Idaho (AP) – Idaho Gov. Brad Little has said he will reverse an executive order regarding COVID-19 vaccines by Lt. Gov. Janice McGeachin, and the Commanding General of the National Guard of the Idaho also told McGeachin on Tuesday that it could not activate troops to be sent to the US-Mexico border.
Little and Major General Michael J. Garshak made the statements as McGeachin, in a flurry of activity, attempted to exercise his authority as acting governor with Little out of state.
Little is in Texas to meet with nine other Republican governors over concerns about how President Joe Biden is handling border issues. McGeachin, a far-right Republican, is running for governor. In Idaho, the governor and the lieutenant governor are not running on the same ticket.
McGeachin’s executive order released Tuesday afternoon aims, among other things, to prevent employers from requiring their employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19. Most traditional Republicans prefer to stay out of the employer-employee relationship.
“I am in Texas to serve as the duly elected governor of Idaho and have not authorized the lieutenant governor to act on my behalf,” Little said in a statement shortly after arriving in Texas on Tuesday. . “I will rescind and rescind all actions taken by the Lieutenant Governor upon my return. “
Little is expected to be back in state Wednesday night.
McGeachin in a letter to Garshak Tuesday morning requested information on how to activate the troops.
“As of Wednesday, my constitutional authority as governor gives me the power to activate the Idaho National Guard,” McGeachin wrote to Garshak in the letter obtained by The Associated Press. “As adjutant general, I ask you for information on the steps necessary for the governor to activate the national guard.”
Garshak responded with a paragraph on Tuesday afternoon.
“I am not aware of any requests for assistance from the Idaho National Guard under the Texas or Arizona Emergency Management Assistance Pact (EMAC),” Garshak wrote, in part, to McGeachin. “As you know, the Idaho National Guard is not a law enforcement agency.”
In June, Little sent a team of Idaho State Police soldiers to the border to help with intelligence gathering and investigative work to stop drugs from crossing the border.
Republican Gov. Greg Abbott of Texas and Republican Gov. Doug Ducey of Arizona asked for help under the Emergency Management Assistance Pact, which allows states to help other states in times of disaster or emergency.
“On September 24, I spoke to my counterpart in Texas, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick’s office, and they affirmed the need for additional resources to help the situation on our southern border,” McGeachin told Garshak.
McGeachin’s office did not respond to a request for comment on Tuesday.
“Attempting to deploy our National Guard for political purposes is an affront to Idaho’s constitution and an insult to the men and women who have dedicated their lives to serving our state and country,” Little said in a statement.
In May, when Little was out of state, she issued an executive order banning mask warrants which Little eliminated upon her return, saying it was best to leave mask warrant decisions to local authorities. Little never issued a mask warrant.
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