Among those testifying at this afternoon’s health insurance exchange hearing: Chad Inman told the Senate Commerce Committee, “The lies will come out and be told, as they’re continuing to be told right now.”  Corey Surber of St. Alphonsus Health System called the state exchange “a mechanism for the state of Idaho to help working families shop for and enroll in health coverage.” Sen. Sheryl Nuxoll, R-Cottonwood, said she represented both her legislative district and “many Catholics around the state of Idaho” in speaking against the exchange bill, saying it would implement abortion by covering emergency contraceptives. Christine Tiddens of Catholic Charities of Idaho spoke in favor of the bill on behalf of both her group and the Roman Catholic Diocese of Idaho. “Idaho has already taken proactive measures to limit abortion coverage,” she said. “Our goal in advocating for this bill is to promote affordable, high-quality coverage for all families of Idaho.”

Toni Lawson,vice president of the Idaho Hospital Association, said, “This is important to our members because we know what it’s like to deal with the federal government.” James Widmeyer told the committee, “Our information would be out there for anybody to hack, anybody to steal.” Insurance lobbyist Woody Richards said, “It’s going to be less expensive to have a state exchange.”