Thread by @LaurenWeberHP

Meet the trio of conservative legal blocs that has rolled back public health authority at the local, state and federal levels, recasting America's ability to fight infectious disease.

My latest @KHNews investigation w/ @annabarryjester @NPR

npr.org/sections/healt…

Galvanized by what they've characterized as an overreach of COVID-related health orders, a loose coalition of religious liberty groups, conservative think tanks, and Republican state attorneys general has unleashed a wave of covid-related litigation.

“You destroy government, and you destroy our emergency response powers and police powers — good luck," CT's @AGWilliamTong told me about their efforts.

"There will be no one to protect you.”

From stripping Wisconsin local health departments of the ability to close schools to suing Missouri localities over mask mandates and winning Supreme Court battles, the groups have successfully rolled back some of the nation's public health powers at all levels of government.

The three groups share ties with conservative juggernauts @FedSoc , @StatePolicy , and the State Policy Network-fostered American Juris Link.

Together, the blocs have supported one another in numerous legal challenges by filing amicus briefs, sharing resources, and teaming up.

“I don’t think these cases have ever been about public health,” said Daniel Suhr, of @LJCenter .

“That’s the arena where these decisions are being made, but it’s the fundamental constitutional principles that underlie it that are an issue.”

Their legal efforts have gained traction with a federal judiciary transformed by Republican congressional leaders and President Donald Trump — and their other successes are already being cited in a key @EPA Supreme Court case that rolled back government regulatory powers.

Several lawyers told @KHNews they did not think their work would have a negative effect on public health.

“The best way for them to preserve the ability to protect the public health is to do it well, and to respect people’s rights while you do it,” said Becket's Mark Rienzi.

All told, public health experts say, the covid-era litigation has altered not just the government response to this pandemic, but also endangered the fundamental tools that public health workers have utilized for decades.

“This will come back to haunt America,” @LawrenceGostin said.

"We will rue the day where we have other public health emergencies, and we’re simply unable to act decisively and rapidly.”

This investigation follows our previous @KHNews @AP work detailing how health departments had been underfunded for years and conservative groups have stripped their powers with legislation amid the pandemic.

khn.org/news/article/o…

#UnderfundedUnderThreat

As public health powers fade from the headlines, the groups seeking to limit government authority have strengthened bonds and gained momentum to tackle other topics, said @ProfNolette .

“Those connections will just keep thickening over time,” he said.

"It's almost as if government authority is not getting defended, and it's almost a one-sided argument," Edward Fallone said.

"It's not about public health, it's about weakening the ability of government to regulate business in general."

@KHNews

khn.org/news/article/c…