Idaho considers a ban on using public funds or facilities for gender-affirming care
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/us/idaho-considers-a-ban-on-using-public-funds-or-facilities-for-gender-affirming-care/ar-BB1k4g5e
Story by REBECCA BOONE (17 March 2024)
BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Idaho lawmakers are expected to vote this week on a bill that would ban the use of any public funds for gender-affirming care, including for state employees using work health insurance and for adults covered by Medicaid.
The legislation already passed the House and only needs to clear the majority Republican Senate before it is sent to Gov. Brad Little's desk, where it would likely be signed into law. The Republican governor has said repeatedly he does not believe public funds should be used for gender-affirming care.
"This bill violates the 14th Amendment equal protections clause" and the federal Medicaid Act, Boise attorney Howard Belodoff told lawmakers during a hearing on Thursday.
Belodoff represents the transgender adults who sued the state over what they said were discriminatory Medicaid policies excluding coverage for genital reconstruction surgery.
But the legislation bars the use of any state property, facility or building for providing surgical operations or medical interventions, which could mean employees would be subject to criminal penalties for taking their own legally prescribed medication while in a break room, Craghtten said.
There is a storm coming.
With all of this anti-trans legislation pending, a massive class-action civil rights lawsuit could hit them all right in the wallet. Sadly, the lawyers get the biggest chunk of class-action settlements, but it would be nice to force 50% of the proceeds into a fund to pay for what they tried to steal from us.
Trump stated last summer that, if elected, he would direct government agencies to prohibit transition at any age. He isn't Congress so he can't pass laws. He would have to do it through an Executive Order. But Executive Orders cannot violate the Constitution or any existing law passed by Congress. So his orders would be null and void from the start. But that doesn't mean government agencies won't suspend things pending a judicial review. That could take years.
If I had the means to do so, I would have a team of top-notch lawyers on retainer and standing by for any such laws to be signed.
Unleash the hounds!