“Operation Esto Perpetua” launched to fight Idaho’s growing drug threat
| I kicked off “Operation Esto Perpetua” last week, a new strategy that will serve to combat Idaho’s growing drug threat. Meth and fentanyl are the most serious and growing drug threats in Idaho, and there is a direct tie to the loose border with Mexico. There is much more we can do to make Idaho’s communities safer. With Operation Esto Perpetua, we are bringing together law enforcement, lawmakers, cities, counties, tribes, families, and the public in new ways with one goal – to meaningfully reduce the flow of fentanyl and meth into the State of Idaho. The increasing availability of drugs – high supply, low price, and totally unpredictable potency – along with the impact on Idaho communities from abuse and crime related to drug abuse, present continuing threats to the health and safety of Idahoans. Operation Esto Perpetua includes both a Law Enforcement Panel and a Citizens Action Group on Fentanyl. The Citizens Action Group on Fentanyl will meet regularly throughout the state over the next couple of months. They will hear from local law enforcement and members of the public about their loved ones’ experiences with fentanyl and meth. The Citizens Action Group will take input and comments from the public at each stop. |
| 25 Governors stand up for American energy independence in light of Russia-Ukraine conflict |
| Twenty-five Republican governors, including myself, called on President Biden on Friday to restore American energy independence as the crisis with Russia threatens even higher prices on American consumers. “As governors, we call on President Biden to reverse his policies and restore America’s energy independence for our citizens as well as our allies abroad. By removing his bans on new oil and gas development on federal lands, building the Keystone XL pipeline, and reinstating regulatory reforms to streamline energy permitting, we can protect our national energy security and sell to our friends rather than buy from our enemies—specifically Russia. Family budgets have already been stretched thin following record inflation. People in our states cannot afford another spike at the gas pump, and our allies cannot afford to be held hostage by Putin’s tyranny and aggression.” |
| Literacy investments help make Idaho students lifelong readers |
 Whenever I am asked about teachers who influenced me growing up, I recall Mrs. Summers, my first grade teacher.She taught reading to her students in a way that instilled in me a lifelong love of reading. I am better off today for the guidance of Mrs. Summers, and now, as Governor, I want to make sure every Idaho student has the same opportunity I had to strengthen their reading skills from a young age and ensure success in education and life. My priority has been and will continue to be getting all Idaho kids to read proficiently by the end of third grade. It just makes sense. Our investments in education later will have more impact if we can give students a strong start. It is not only our constitutional obligation but our moral obligation as well. I have always been an advocate for full-day Kindergarten for those districts that choose to implement it. Thankfully, Idaho’s system of public education is locally driven, with input from parents, and it will remain that way. My Leading Idaho plan includes an additional $46 million for literacy, which may go toward offering full-day Kindergarten for families that want it in many parts of the state. This means we will be directing $73 million ongoing to districts to ensure our kids can read proficiently by the end of third grade.With this added investment, we will have increased funding for literacy five-fold since I took office as Governor just over three years ago. It is an accomplishment I am truly proud of. The increased resources can be utilized by districts to address literacy based on their own needs. Some districts may choose to use the dollars for full-day Kindergarten, and other districts may choose to use them for after school reading programs. I have always supported addressing needs through flexibility. Each district is different, and the money needs to be flexible to ensure success. I hope that years from now every Idahoan will be able to reflect on their education and think back, like I do now, about someone who helped them learn to love reading from a young age. With the historic literacy investments I am seeking through our “Leading Idaho” plan, we will get there! |
| Public health disaster emergency declaration to end April 15 |
| Idaho will end the public health emergency on April 15, 2022. I kept Idaho open, banned vaccine mandates, never issued mandates for vaccines or masks, and successfully challenged Biden’s overreaching vaccine mandates in court. The emergency declaration served as an administrative function to recoup FEMA dollars for a variety of needs throughout Idaho. The emergency declaration never violated or restricted any rights of Idahoans, never put Idaho on lockdown, and never allowed for mandates for masks or vaccines. These are the facts. We’re hopeful the recent decrease in COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, and deaths means we are on a downward trend with the pandemic. For weeks, we have been closely examining the needs within Idaho’s healthcare system with an eye toward ending the public health emergency declaration as soon as possible. I want to thank Idahoans, especially our medical community, first responders, public health officials, and National Guard volunteers for helping us reach this positive milestone. |
| VIDEO: The Tale of Two Budgets |
| https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xuC7tGXOwfM While D.C. digs the country into massive debt, Idaho leads the way with a record budget surplus. Watch “The Tale of Two Budgets,” and see why Idaho is leading the way in fiscal responsibility! |
| In the Community |
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| I was happy to fill my office with black and gold to celebrate my University of Idaho Vandals! Congrats to all teams playing in the Big Sky Basketball Championships this week in Boise for your hard work and dedication all season! |
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| Speaking of the Big Sky Basketball Championships, we had some friends from around the West stop by the Capitol! Enjoy your visit to Idaho! |
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| Today, I proudly issued a proclamation for Women in Construction Week in Idaho! |
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| I am happy to proclaim March 9, 2022, as Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Day and March 2022 as National Nutrition Month! |
