Edit: Medicaid expansion makes sense
In its Friday editorial, the Coeur d'Alene Press says that Medicaid expansion is too logical for the legislative ideologues blocking even a vote on the matter:
Legislators heard passionate testimony Tuesday in favor of expanding Medicaid coverage in Idaho. Doing so would provide important health care to thousands of Idahoans who live below the poverty level. It would save the state roughly $45 million in catastrophic health care costs. It would save counties another $20 million in indigent health care costs. Improve the health of thousands of Idahoans. Save millions and millions of dollars. Easy, right? Wrong. The state’s first hearing on expanding Medicaid eligibility was a step in the right direction, but apparently, one that will not be followed by more steps. Not this session, and not in the same direction, either/Coeur d'Alene Press Editorial Board. More here.
DFO: I like this line in the editorial: "In our view, this is ideology conquering common sense and human decency." And yet I suspect that about 8 of 9 Kootenai County legislators would vote against Medicaid expansion if given the opportunity. Ideology over common decency almost always in the GOTP part of Idaho. Thoughts?