Medical Freedom Is Why We Live in Idaho

Medical freedom and bodily autonomy are foundational principles of the Idaho Republican Party Platform, and these are deeply held values by conservatives across our state. Here in Blaine County, we fully embrace these principles, which affirm the right of every individual to make personal healthcare decisions free from government coercion or mandates. This belief is a core reason why so many freedom-loving Americans choose to live, work, and raise their families in Idaho.

The COVID-19 pandemic brought this issue into sharp focus, especially for those of us in Blaine County. Before Governor Brad Little issued a statewide stay-at-home order in March 2020, Blaine County was already under one, making us the first county in Idaho to take such extreme measures.

But the mandates didn’t stop there. While most other counties in Idaho moved quickly to lift restrictions and return to normal life, cities in the Wood River Valley continued to enforce mask mandates well into 2022. This pattern of disproportionate control and government overreach set us apart from the rest of the state, and not in a good way. For those of us who live in Idaho because we value liberty and personal responsibility, this was a wake-up call.

Fortunately, Blaine County is also home to one of the most courageous advocates for medical freedom in the United States: Leslie Manookian. Long before the pandemic, Leslie had already dedicated herself to fighting for the right of individuals to make their own medical choices. When COVID-19 hit and mandates spread faster than the virus itself, she was ready.

As president of the Health Freedom Defense Fund (HFDF), Leslie led legal actions challenging mandates here at home. In September 2021, she filed a lawsuit against the City of Hailey and Mayor Martha Burke, arguing that the city’s mask mandate amounted to a “grand human experiment” in violation of federal law. Since then, HFDF has expanded its legal efforts and successfully challenged medical mandates across the country. Leslie’s ongoing efforts in the face of authoritarian-minded politicians are not only brave, they have been effective.

Fast forward to today: Leslie’s tireless advocacy was instrumental in the passage of the Idaho Medical Freedom Act, signed into law this week by Governor Little. This groundbreaking legislation—the first of its kind in the nation—prohibits any business, school, or government agency in the state from requiring medical intervention as a condition of employment or access to services.

The passage of this bill wasn’t easy. It went through several versions and even faced an initial veto from the governor. But thanks to the persistence of Idaho’s Republican leadership, the bill sponsors, and citizen advocates like Leslie, it ultimately became law.

We applaud Representative Mike Pohanka of District 26 for standing with the people and supporting this critical legislation. At the same time, we must call out Senator Ron Taylor and Representative Jack Nelsen for their unrelenting opposition to the bill. Their votes betray the very freedoms our state was founded on and ignore the harsh, overreaching mandates their constituents were forced to endure during the pandemic.

The Blaine County Republican Central Committee is proud to support Leslie Manookian and all those who worked tirelessly to make Idaho the freest state in the nation when it comes to medical freedom. We affirm, without hesitation, that we will never comply with medical mandates of any kind. These freedoms are why we live in Idaho and why we are Republicans. We must remain vigilant in defending these freedoms for future generations.

Heather Lauer is the Chair of the Blaine County Republican Central Committee