Gov. Butch Otter just went on Fox News to talk about how Idaho has joined 12 other states in a lawsuit filed this morning in federal district court in Florida, challenging federal health care reform. Otter called it “an unconstitutional mandate that it forces on all 50 states including my own,” and said, “The sovereignty of the state of Idaho is very important to us, as is the sovereignty of the citizens of the state of Idaho, and it should be in every state.”

Idaho Attorney General Lawrence Wasden joined the attorneys general of Florida, South Carolina, Nebraska, Texas, Utah, Louisiana, Alabama, Colorado, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Washington and South Dakota in the lawsuit.

“Our complaint alleges the new law infringes upon the constitutional rights of Idahoans and residents of the other states by mandating all citizens and legal residents have qualifying health care coverage or pay a tax penalty,” Attorney General Wasden said.   “The law exceeds the powers of the United States under Article I of the Constitution and violates the Tenth Amendment to the Constitution.  Additionally, the tax penalty required under the law constitutes an unlawful direct tax in violation of Article I, sections 2 and 9 of the Constitution.”

The AARP of Idaho is criticizing Idaho Gov. Butch Otter’s threat to sue to stop federal health care reform legislation if it becomes law, saying it would hurt Idahoans struggling with health care costs; Otter made the threat last week in a letter to U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. “To simply say ‘no’ to health care reform can only serve to make Idaho’s health care crisis worse, the cost of inaction on this issue is too high,” said Jim Wordelman, state director for the seniors group in Idaho. “We’re calling on Idaho’s elected officials to set partisan politics aside and work to make the final health care reform bill the best it can be – that’s what Idaho deserves.” AARP said 221,000 Idahoans are uninsured, though 88 percent of those uninsured Idahoans are employed. Also, about 27% of Idaho’s Medicare beneficiaries last year fell into the prescription drug coverage gap known as the “doughnut hole”, leading to high out-of-pocket costs for prescriptions; closing that hole has been a top priority for AARP in its work on national health care reform. Click below to read the full statement from AARP Idaho.

Idaho Gov. Butch Otter has sent a letter to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi decrying the health care reform bills passed by both houses of Congress, along with the “deal making, arm twisting and the ends-justifying-the-means attitude that we saw throughout the process and recent votes.” The governor says he’ll “explore all my options, including legal action” against the federal legislation should it become law; the House and Senate bills, which differ, now go to conference to determine the final version. Click here to read Otter’s full letter.

Both of Idaho’s representatives, Mike Simpson and Walt Minnick, voted against the health care reform bill in the House over the weekend, while the two split on a stringent anti-abortion amendment that was added to the bill at the last minute; Simpson voted in favor, Minnick against. Here’s a link to Simpson’s statement on his vote on the overall bill; here’s one to Minnick’s on the bill and on the amendment; and here are links to commentary on how this is playing out from political historian Randy Stapilus and from Idaho Statesman editorial page editor Kevin Richert.

Idaho Rep. Walt Minnick says he’ll vote against the big health care reform bill that’s coming up for a vote in the House. Click below to read his statement.

Idaho lawmakers would be foolish and premature to try to either opt out of federal health care reforms or, following Arizona’s lead, change the state’s constitution to try to keep reforms out, lawmakers of both parties concluded today after hours of testimony.  “It’s premature - opt out of what?” said Sen. Joe Stegner, R-Lewiston. Said Rep. Gary Collins, R-Nampa, “It would be foolish to do something like that.” House Minority Leader John Rusche, D-Lewiston, called any such moves “extremely premature.”

The Idaho Legislature’s health care task force, which includes both senators and representatives from both parties, invited insurers, underwriters, representatives of doctors and hospitals, the AARP and more to give presentations on whether Idaho should opt out of national reforms or change its constitution, and what reforms would help the state. None of the presenters favored either move.

Sen. Dean Cameron, R-Rupert, who co-chairs the task force with Collins, said some Idaho legislators are working on a constitutional amendment. “I am told that there are legislators that are considering it,” he said. “I think we heard pretty clearly that it’s, A, premature, and B, may not be the most effective way of us stating our opinion of whatever the health care reform may be.”

Opting out of a public option likely wouldn’t mean that a state could simply do nothing, Scott Leavitt of the Idaho Association of Health Underwriters warned lawmakers. Instead, states that opt out likely would have to show they’re offering something better. “You have a lot of work to do if you opt out,” he told lawmakers.

Alex LaBeau, head of the Idaho Association of Commerce and Industry, told lawmakers that he doesn’t think much of federal health care reforms being debated in Congress, but his group isn’t recommending opting out. “With most of these proposals, essentially we’re punishing 85 percent of Americans for the benefit of 15 percent of Americans,” he said. “That’s the problem with what’s going on in Washington, D.C.” Simply improving reimbursement levels to private providers for Medicare and Medicaid would be “one reform that Congress should look at,” LaBeau said. “We do need some reforms. I don’t think Idaho can say that we’re taking our marbles and going home.” The state and Idaho businesses should engage in the national debate, he said. “Whether or not we get any reform this year or next year or the year after, something has to happen.”

David Irwin, director of communications for AARP Idaho, told lawmakers on the health care task force that Idaho could face “unintended consequences” if it decides to opt out of federal health care reform. “A move to opt out could reduce or cut federal relief for our state’s increasing number of uninsured,” he said, noting that a recent Kaiser Family Foundation study showed that nearly 88 percent of Idaho’s 221,000 uninsured residents have jobs, and 75 percent have full-time jobs. “The reality is many don’t have health care because it costs too much,” he said.

“Opting out could vastly reduce Idaho’s bargaining power for better health care prices, as opposed to being part of a national purchasing pool that can negotiate lower prices,” Irwin told lawmakers.

Among the items being discussed in the congressional health care debate, NCSL health policy director Joy Wilson told Idaho lawmakers, is extending the boost to the federal match for Medicaid funding that came with the economic stimulus legislation for an additional six months. That would be a big deal for states that otherwise will need to fund a big jump in Medicaid costs when the stimulus money is gone. Wilson said that issue could be in the health reform bill, or in a separate bill.

Sen. John McGee, R-Caldwell, asked Wilson to “handicap” the chances that a health care reform bill will pass. “I’m covering less than 50-50 now,” she responded. “The Senate seems to be pretty split, the Senate Democrats, and so that’s a real problem. The surprise is that the speaker doesn’t have her votes locked up either. I think I was 60-40 before - I’m not there any more.” She added, “I want to believe that before it fails, somebody is going to blink. … It is a little troubling that they’re this close to going to the floor in the House, and they’re acknowledging that they’re short of sufficient votes.”

Rep. Gary Collins, R-Nampa, co-chairman of the Idaho Legislature’s health care task force, said, “Just like everything we’re hearing, it’s all over the board.”

The Idaho Legislature’s health care task force has interrupted its panel discussion on whether Idaho should opt out of federal health care reform for a conference call with the National Conference of State Legislatures on the status of federal reform legislation. “There is still a lot of negotiation going on, a lot of posturing,” Joy Wilson of NCSL told the Idaho lawmakers. “So there are no done deals yet with health care reform.” She said the House has a Democratic bill and a Republican alternative, but “on the Senate side, things are a lot more fluid.” As for the prospect of any opt-out provisions for states, “To date I have not found anyone that knew what anyone would be opting out of or how we would go about it,” Wilson said. “The Senate language may not be available until the 16th.” That may mean the congressional debate runs past the holidays into January, she said.

Susie Pouliot, CEO of the Idaho Medical Association, told lawmakers just now that “with all due respect, it is very difficult to pin down the pros and cons” to Idaho of possibly opting out of national health reform measures, when federal legislation hasn’t been finalized. “I hope you don’t think this is too much of a cop-out,” she said. Idaho doctors are on both sides of the issue on whether there should be a public option insurance plan, she said, but a majority of the IMA has come out against that prospect. “We very strongly support universal coverage and access to health care,” she said, ” … not necessarily a single-payer system.” She added, “Part of our discussion is if we had everyone covered tomorrow, would we have an adequate physician population” to treat all those patients. Unfortunately, she said, the answer is no. “We are woefully low,” and rank 50th among states for doctor-to-patient ratio, she said. The IMA backs increased medical education and training and other measures to increase the number of doctors in the state.

The Idaho AARP says the combination of state budget cuts with cutbacks in health coverage for part-time state workers and shifting state retirees off the state health plan onto Medicare is “a combination that spells health care disaster for many Idaho residents,” and the organization is calling on lawmakers to address the issue.  “It doesn’t make any sense to pull the rug out from underneath Idaho’s part-time state employees and retirees, while continuing to weaken the programs in the community where people turn in times of crisis,” said Jim Wordelman, AARP Idaho state director.  “AARP members in Idaho – half of whom are in the workforce – are looking to their elected officials at the state and federal level to tackle this issue now.” Click below to read AARP Idaho’s full news release.

Idaho Republican Party Chairman Norm Semanko has put out a statement criticizing the “Dispel the Myths/Squash the Fear Rally” in Boise in favor of health care reform today, but it makes no mention of the counter-rally that sought to shout down the main rally. Speakers at the main rally, including owners of small businesses around the state, said they just want to be able to afford to offer health coverage to their employees; several urged protesters to contact their representatives if they don’t like what’s in the current bill, and make sure something workable gets passed. Jonathan Parker, party executive director, said he didn’t attend the rally, and said he and Semanko decided to put out the statement in response to an email from a party member. “For the record, the Idaho Republican Party didn’t rally opponents of universal health care to attend this rally and shout down the pro-reform Obama care folks,” Parker said. “This was just average everyday Idahoans standing up for what they believe in.”

The pitch for counter-protesters to attend the rally went out on the website of the 912 Project Idaho, an online “Meetup Group” that claims “344 patriots” as members and is part of Fox TV personality Glenn Beck’s “9/12 Project.” Click below to read Semanko’s statement.

A health care reform rally in Boise today featuring Idaho small-business owners who are struggling to provide health insurance for their employees was disrupted by a counter-rally of health care reform opponents, who tried to out-shout the speakers at the rally. “That’s kind of democracy - isn’t that a debate?” asked Shanna Smith, who held a bright-green “Kill the Bill” sign and was among the loudest of the shouters. “I’m not angry - I’m afraid for our country,” she said. “I’m afraid for the road we’re going down, the road to socialism. … It’s pretty scary what’s going on in that bill. It gives the government way too much power over our lives.”

When the Rev. Betty Beck spoke at the main rally, framing health care as a “moral issue,” protesters in the back hooted. When another speaker invoked “human rights,” a woman in the back shouted, “You’re a bunch of socialist dupes.” Near a sign that said, “Poop on Obama care,” a little boy in back yelled out, “I say you guys go back where the heck you came from!” His mother quickly hushed him.

Wendy Somerset, owner of Furniture and Appliance Outlet in Twin Falls, said her employees won’t take the insurance she provides because of the cost: “It’s groceries or health insurance,” she said. “We need reform and we need it now.” As she spoke, flag-waving protesters in back yelled, “Take your socialism!” and “Read the Constitution!” and a woman shouted, “We’re not going to pay for your abortions!” When rally organizer Nancy Snodgrass of the Main Street Alliance appealed for quiet and respect from both sides, protester Lucille Verdolini shouted from the back, “Let’s pray that you don’t get breast cancer and die.” The group in back then chanted, “Obama lies, Grandma dies.”

Michaile Metro, owner of Metropolis Hair Salon in Boise, responded to the heckling by raising her voice and rallying the group in front, which numbered about 80, to cheers, temporarily drowning out the group in back, which numbered about 50. “I think they were trying to drown me out because they have fear, and they wanted to make sure my voice wasn’t heard,” Metro said. “It didn’t really scare me, it fired me up and inspired me.” Metro said she doesn’t offer health insurance to her employees, but she wants to. “We’re willing to pay,” she said. “All we want is affordable health care.”

Verdolini, whose husband, Jim, said he put the word out on the Internet to prompt the counter-rally, said she grew up in England, and doesn’t want to see America go the British way. Holding a sign saying, “How lucky for Obama that his supporters can’t think,” Verdolini said, “I know what socialist care is all about, and I am desperate to make people understand that it is a desperate hazard to people’s health, especially women. I am desperate to make people understand they are getting duped.” The Verdolinis said they’re “9/12’ers,” which he described as people who want to recapture the patriotism, religious sense and unity Americans felt the day after the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

Both sides declared victory. “We need to all speak our minds - this is a free country,” Snodgrass said, “but we need to take care of one another, and provide health care reform. So I was thrilled they were here. I believe we outspoke them. I believe our voices were heard.” Jim Verdolini, a Boise retiree, said, “I think it was more of a success for us than it was for the other side.” He added, “I’d sorta like my semi-fixed income not to be looted in order to pay for health care for illegals.”

Young Idaho mom Amanda Buchanan picked up an old copy of “Consumer Reports” in her local library in Weiser and began leafing through it last year, and saw a call for health care stories that people wanted to share. She had just the thing. Now, the magazine’s “Cover America Tour” project has made the young, uninsured Idaho mom the face of health care challenges in Idaho - and she’s hosting a letter-writing event for health care reform today at Boise’s Municipal Park. Consumer Reports suggested it as a way to do something about the problem, she explained; she’s by the big, yellow banners that say “Write a Letter for Health Care Reform,” and is scheduled to be there until 5.

Amanda and husband Jason Vlcek wanted to have a second child, but adding the family to his insurance coverage at work - he’s an elementary school teacher - would cost the young family $820 a month in premiums, 34 percent of their household income. They couldn’t afford it. “It got to the point where the insurance was just too high - it was eating into our basic needs,” Buchanan said. She wondered if they could afford to have a second child.

A private policy for Amanda cost less, but carried an additional $5,000 maternity deductible.  They decided on a plan: She’d buy private insurance, but after the baby was born, she’d cancel hers, and use that money to pay down her medical debt, while purchasing a separate private policy just for the new baby. Meanwhile, Jason’s school district began offering a “catastrophic” insurance plan, with a $3,000 deductible, after which only 50 percent of costs are paid. They signed Jason and toddler son Kwei up. “I just wasn’t going to leave him uninsured,” she said, watching the active 2-year-old toddle around the park. New baby Merin is now six months old.

State Rep. John Rusche, D-Lewiston, a physician and the House minority leader, said when lawmakers commissioned a study of the uninsured in Idaho, “It’s just these people - young, employed. … typically young people, who were working but just couldn’t afford it.” The 2007 study showed 18 percent of Idaho’s non-elderly population uninsured, but much higher figures for young adults - 38 percent for those age 18 to 24, and 28 percent for those age 25 to 34; it also showed that 60 percent of Idaho’s uninsured adults are employed.

Amanda knows she’s taking a risk, and it concerns her. But she and her family also are healthy - aside from giving birth, she’s never been admitted to a hospital, and hasn’t gone to the doctor since 2004. “The fact is, the cost of decent insurance cripples my family financially,” she said.