Governor details consequences of ending emergency declaration prematurely
At Noon today, Governor Brad Little delivered a statewide message to all Idahoans addressing the COVID-19 emergency declaration under which Idaho currently operates.
Efforts are underway by the Idaho Legislature to revoke that declaration, which jeopardizes the relief and protections afforded to Idahoans during this emergency.
There are numerous pieces of legislation circulating in the Capitol that would impact Idaho’s emergency declaration. In the Senate, Concurrent Resolution 101, which may be voted on as early as Monday, would end the declaration and, with it, the FEMA funding and other emergency resources the state receives from the Federal government. Meanwhile, House members are also looking at ways to prematurely end the emergency declaration.
Ending the emergency declaration does nothing to address the health orders by local jurisdictions that seem to be the intended target of Legislators’ angst.
Idaho is the only state looking at such a drastic action. All 50 states and US territories have emergency declarations in place. Additionally, two federal emergency declarations put in place by President Trump are still active.
Why is the emergency declaration important to Idaho?
The declaration allowed Idaho to take many critical steps early in the pandemic to remove barriers that impeded rapid responses in healthcare and other areas. It also allows Idaho to access federal financial resources, utilize the Idaho National Guard, and tap into testing supplies and critical healthcare equipment.
Critical funding came to the state, cities, counties, hospitals, providers, businesses, and individuals to help battle the pandemic by:
• Getting critical PPE, testing supplies and equipment and, now, vaccines to Idaho.
• Funding hospitals and providers who were hampered when having to end non-emergent procedures then again when they were overwhelmed by COVID patient surges.
• Paying employees who would otherwise lose their jobs in tens of thousands of businesses throughout Idaho.
• Helping businesses, cities and counties get access to equipment, supplies and funding to address health and safety concerns.
The Governor noted, Idaho is doing well but we’re not past this yet. "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," said Governor Little.
Ending the emergency declaration prematurely wouldn’t return life back to normal. In fact, it will punish Idahoans, our healthcare system, and our businesses. These rash acts mean:
• vaccine availability and funding are jeopardized;
• the equipment and support needed in communities throughout Idaho will have to be funded by local taxes;
• hospitals will lose access to critical supplies and support for staffing as they prepare for large-scale community immunizations;
• the Idaho National Guard can no longer be used to support testing, vaccine distribution, food banks and medical facilities; and
• the federal tax dollars you’ve paid will go to other states when they are needed here.
The Governor stressed, these acts will mean “less vaccine, more taxes, and more red tape.” He spoke directly to Legislators encouraging them to "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."
What can you do?
Today, we need our hospital voice to be heard resoundingly by Legislators who either knowingly or unwittingly will impede your efforts to take care of your community.
Ask your Senator to oppose Senate Concurrent Resolution 101. While we all want life to return back to normal, revoking the Governor’s declaration in any way directly impedes that effort and would be a massive setback to all the incredible work done by hospitals and their frontline workers across the state.
Ask your Representatives to slow down and understand the negative impacts of prematurely ending the emergency declaration. We are on the precipice of beating this virus. Now is not the time to turn back the clock and cut off critical resources for our hospitals and employers.
Share this with family, friends, and co-workers to help us continue the job of caring for our communities in this pandemic.
List of 2021 Idaho Legislators
Brian Whitlock, President/CEO, Idaho Hospital Association