Idaho Gov. Brad Little on Wednesday declared Wednesday, Aug. 31, as Overdose Awareness Day.
The Republican governor issued the proclamation as the state ramps up efforts to stem the flow of illegal fentanyl that has led to increased overdose deaths.
Republican House Speaker Scott Bedke filled in for the governor, whose staff said had a cold as well as a conflict.
“Governor Little had a conflict so Speaker Bedke attended in his place,” spokeswoman Madison Hardy said in a statement, without elaborating about the conflict. She later added he also has a cold but tested negative for COVID-19. Hardy said the governor was looking forward to a legislative special session he called involving tax cuts and education spending that starts Thursday.
The Idaho Press reported Little also missed a planned speech in Pocatello on Tuesday, with his office citing a cold that wasn’t serious.
Bedke read the proclamation on Little’s behalf on the Statehouse steps with a background of empty chairs representing the 353 overdose deaths in Idaho in 2021.
Little in March launched “Operation Esto Perpetua” to combat the state’s growing drug threat. Bedke is on a citizen’s panel as part of that effort that has taken comments from the public on how the state should respond.
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