Unfortunately for Idahoans, Governor Do-Little has vetoed Senate Bill 1023, The Medical Freedom Act, which would have protected individual medical freedom against all vaccine mandates in the state of Idaho. Typical of our lobbying-loving governor, he has decided to side with special interests like Big Pharma, IACI, and the Idaho Hospital Association over the interests of Idaho’s families.
This bill would prohibit mandates on medical interventions and would expand on Idaho’s previous law which prohibited businesses from requiring COVID-19 vaccines. I agree after reading this bill several times that there are some potential minor flaws. I don’t believe it’s sufficient enough to be vetoed. Little claimed that the bill would prohibit schools from sending students with contagious conditions home and as usual tried to cover his butt by talking about all the other bills he signed into law, such as banning mask mandates and allowing healthcare professionals to refuse treatments which would violate their personal beliefs.
While he tried to claim that Idaho has the most medical freedom of any state it reminded me of the claim that Idaho was the least regulated state which we now know was untrue. Claiming that vetoing this bill was for the benefit of parents is just so much bull. Little said they would know their children are safe in school or a daycare facility from illnesses that can be easily transmitted. This is like sending your children into a mosquito infested swamp and expecting they will not get bitten.
In our opinion:
- Nothing in S1023E2 directly addresses or bans the exclusion of contagious students. The bill focuses on prohibiting mandates to receive or use “medical interventions” (vaccines, tests, medications) as a condition of attendance or employment.
- Sending a contagious student home does not inherently mandate or require a medical procedure. Therefore, a straightforward “stay home if you are sick” policy is not covered by the ban on requiring medical interventions.
- Potential Gray Areas arise if a school conditions re-admission on demonstrating a negative test or certain treatment. That might theoretically trigger the law’s broad definition of “medical intervention.” Even then, as long as there is an alternative (e.g., remain home until symptoms resolve), it is unlikely to be a direct violation. However, a highly strict policy demanding mandatory testing or forced treatment for re-entry could conceivably invite litigation.
- Likelihood of successful legal challenge under S1023E2 for excluding an actively contagious student is minimal. Exclusion does not require the student to undergo any medical intervention; it merely protects the rest of the school population.
In short, the new law does not appear to prohibit schools from sending students with contagious conditions home under standard communicable-disease policies. It primarily restricts a school’s ability to force a vaccine, a diagnostic test, or other procedures as a condition for attendance. While there is always the possibility of creative lawsuits, the statute on its face does not eliminate or undermine schools’ longstanding authority (and duty) to exclude ill individuals for public health reasons.
The news article by the Idaho Statesman made particular note that “Rep. Lori McCann, R-Lewiston, previously said the changes would be too far-reaching by going from COVID-19 vaccines to every medical intervention”. “This is a bridge too far that I cannot get over,” McCann said. “It is too broad.” This is a representative who presents herself as a conservative yet gets a score of just 54.1% from the Idaho Freedom Foundation for her Freedom Index voting record to date. Let’s face it folks, we have way too many phony legislators getting elected by saying they have conservative values when in actuality they are nothing more than Jackasses pretending to be Elephants doing the bidding of the Lefty Lobbyists we have here in Idaho. In simple terms this means if the lobbyists don’t want a bill to pass you can be sure it won’t.
This bill was passed by the house of representatives with a two-thirds vote however the Senate approved the bill with only a 19 for 14 against which makes it dubious that they will override the governor’s veto. This bill was going to protect our God given rights to decide what’s best for ourselves and our children. The only real chance I believe will be for a rewrite of this bill that will address the governors’ objections. Unfortunately, it is very late in the session and more than likely it will be pushed off till next year, which will be an election year and it will have a much better chance of passing.
If you would like to read our most recent research on this matter you will find it here at
“We Get the Government We Deserve”
3 replies on “Governor Do-Little Vetoes the Medical Freedom Act”
The Gov failed to listen to the majority of the people in Idaho. What a shame. He has been a failure since he took the reigns from Butch Otter. The picture of him in this article with the mask on should be a full mask covering his whole face.
Ignore it. Become ungovernable. Sooner, rather than later, this Grinning Idiot, this tool of out-of-state money and lobbyists will have to face the music. Let’s get into The Wayback Machine and return to 09/24/2021 and stand outside the offices of CDA 271 school district, in Little Portland. The local school board was considering reinstating the mask mandate at all CDA 271 schools, based on letters received by two doctors.
I watched the live feed as a very angry mob of parents attempted to storm the building, hollering and banging on the windows. Even “The Thin Blue Line” of Chief White’s finest retreated inside and the doors were locked. Mr. Little should learn a lesson from this. How will he enforce this bogus genuflection to his out-of-state puppet masters? Be careful when you decide to mess with peoples’ children, Herr Gauleiter, there may be unintended consequences.
Bottom line…Gov Little is a RHINO that needs to go. So Idaho, lets get the word out for the next state election. Do not support this traitor of Idaho.