Ensuring children receive needed medical care should be a shared priority. Sadly, Idaho is making national news for epic failure on this front. The Washington Post reported the heart-wrenching story of a 13-year-old girl in McCall, pregnant and unable to get immediate medical attention when she had early contractions. Neither the girl nor the relative who brought her in could consent to care under a new Republican law. It took hours to proceed with an exam, as hospital staff tried to reach the girl’s mother, who was living out of a car, or her incarcerated grandmother.

Thankfully, labor was not imminent, and the relative completed guardianship paperwork before the girl ultimately gave birth. But this law should concern all of us.

Imagine a teen with suicidal thoughts whose parents don’t believe in mental health treatment or a minor with a sexually transmitted infection who fears their parents’ reaction. As the Idaho State Police acknowledged, the law prevents forensic exams in sexual abuse cases if the parent — who might be the perpetrator — won’t comply.

How did we get here? The unchecked power of a too-large Republican supermajority. Holding 82% of the seats, Idaho’s GOP legislators no longer feel bound by their constituents’ values or common sense. Destructive groupthink causes awful policies to sail through.

Let’s be clear. The serious problems with the bill were known. Rep. Erickson warned his fellow Republican legislators the bill would harm kids, based on his professional experience serving youth.

I myself stood up on the House Floor and explained the risks to minors who would go without care, including that sexual predators could use this law to conceal abuse of their children.

Nevertheless, every Republican legislator, including Rep. Erickson, voted for it. It was more comfortable to fall in line, no matter the consequences for kids.

This is just one in a series of extreme measures in Idaho statute due to herd mentality, including cash awards for family members of rapists if a victim seeks an abortion and bounties for book banners.

This is not the Idaho I grew up in. I remember a former Republican senator wistfully sharing that when the Idaho Senate was evenly split between Republicans and Democrats, they made the best policy because they had to come together and compromise.

Idaho Democrats know we are underdogs. After the coming Election Day, the GOP will likely still hold a supermajority. But by electing more Democrats in competitive districts, we can begin restoring a healthy balance to the Legislature.

Idahoans deserve responsible governance — not the whims of a party’s fringe extremists. Let’s vote for balance, accountability, and leaders who will consider the consequences of their actions on November 5.

Onward,

-- Lauren Necochea
Idaho Democratic Party Chair.