Coronavirus hits us with the Governor of Idaho saying to stay at home for 21 days

On Wednesday, March 25th Governor Brad Little ordered Idahoans to stay home for the next 21 days (see this Tweet from 1:55 PM). There were newspaper articles in both the Idaho Statesman and Idaho Press.

The previous day, March 24, there was a column by libertarian blowhard and lobbyist Wayne Hoffman (previously it was an article on March 20 at his Idaho Freedom Foundation web site) in the Idaho Press titled Legislature fails: Now it’s up to Little to lead with conservative solutions. Wayne whined:

“….Idaho need not do what New York and California are doing: ordering mass business closures, destroying lives and livelihoods. Little need not overreact, as Boise’s mayor has, by severely restricting economic activity.”

The governor instead took more sensible advice. Hoffman’s Idaho Freedom Foundation previously had sent the Governor an arrogant letter on March 17 that misquoted state law and said:

“Idaho Code 48-1001 provides you wide latitude to hold in abeyance those regulations and statutes that “prevent, hinder, or delay necessary action in coping with [an] emergency.” Thus, I write today to provide some suggestions to help Idahoans better cope with the COVID-19 crisis.”

But Title 48 is Monopolies and Trade Practices, and Chapter 10 is the Idaho Telephone Solicitation Act that begins with 48-1001. Perhaps he instead meant to reference Title 46 Militia and Military Affairs. Chapter 10 is the State Disaster Preparedness Act. Under 46-1008 The Governor and Disaster Emergencies it says:

“(5) In addition to any other powers conferred upon the governor by law he may:

(a) Suspend the provisions of any regulations prescribing the conduct of public business that would in any way prevent, hinder, or delay action in coping with the emergency:…”

On March 25th Mr. Hoffman sent the Governor another tinhorn letter with his criticisms of that stay-at-home order. This time he did not reference state code (which even would have permitted a 30-day order). The latest letter contains the following five points and bold text which ignore that the Governor is doing exactly what he can and should do:

"1]  Too sudden.

IFF suggests you postpone the enforcement of this order, so Idahoans have at least 48 hours to prepare. Ask Idahoans to help out in this emergency; don’t impose a mandate. Free people to make good decisions on their own.

2]  Too vague.

Rather than have the government decide what businesses or activities are ‘essential,’ treat all businesses and activities the same.

3]  Too sweeping.

Some jurisdictions recognize, though everyone is at risk, it makes no sense to limit the movement of all people, all ages, when some age brackets are at greater risk.

4]  No exit strategy.

IFF suggests you establish some criteria that businesses can meet to re-open, such as heightened cleanliness standards.

5]  It overrides local control during emergencies.

IFF suggests you give local officials the authority to control the situation on the ground and rescind your order on a case-by-case basis, so that businesses can reopen as local conditions warrant."

On March 26, 2020 there was an editorial in the Lewiston Tribune by Marty Trillhaase titled Little is overreacting to the coronavirus; good. I agree with Marty rather than Wayne.

I am retired and already had been limiting my activities except for grocery shopping trips. The last other trip I made was last Friday to get the oil in my car changed. So, I’m watching a lot of TV and Netflix. For me the biggest hardship is that the Ada Community Library is closed. Before it did,  I borrowed the six-hour Great Courses DVD set on Understanding Nonverbal Communication.  

The cartoon house was adapted from an image by TJFREE at Wikimedia Commons.