A new health insurance program could mean that 100,000 more Idahoans would end up with government-paid health coverage. That was the sentiment Idaho Department of Health and Welfare Director Dick Armstrong shared with members of the House Health and Welfare Committee at a special meeting in the Capitol Thursday. The meeting, called by committee chair Janice McGeachin, R-Idaho Falls, was intended to study and discuss the creation of a state-based health exchange program, a government-run insurance market system. Exchanges are a major part of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act passed by Congress in March of 2010/Dustin Hurst, Idaho Reporter. More here.

Question: Do you think Idaho leaders are happy that 100,000 Idahoans could get government health insurance coverage?