Idaho National Guard boss shuns lt. governor border request

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — The commanding general of the Idaho National Guard has told Republican Lt. Gov. Janice McGeachin that she can’t activate troops to send to the U.S.-Mexico border.

Major General Michael J. Garshak in a letter Tuesday to McGeachin says a call for help from border states earlier this year involved law enforcement, not National Guard troops.

Republican Gov. Brad Little announced Monday he was going to the Texas-Mexico border to meet with nine other Republican governors over concerns on how President Joe Biden is handling border issues.

McGeachin is the acting governor while Little is out of state.

Speaker of the House Scott Bedke responded to this saying:

“While the Lt. Governor has an important role to serve as president of the Senate and follow the guidance of the Governor, her actions today are the exact kind of overreach that does not represent Idaho and Idahoans. This is a complete grandstand and abuse of her political office in an attempt to influence voters.

Currently, the Senate Pro Tempore and I are working through the proper avenues to return to session with a clear path forward to deny the recent Biden mandates. The draft legislation moved forward by the Joint Federalism Committee with unanimous support of its Republican members appears to have found that path. I stand firm against the current Biden Administration’s attack on personal rights and freedoms, and I do not support this federal violation.

What comes next will be determined soon by the Legislative Branch and not be left to the Lt. Governor to dictate.”