Uphold Prop 2 in Boise

Idaho citizens’ Prop 2 initiative passed into law by 61 percent to 39 percent. We authorized Medicaid expansion to provide access to preventive health care services for low-income residents, with the feds covering 90 percent and the state 10 percent of the cost.

Now, Boise lawmakers are attempting to saddle our law with added requirements that’ll cost Idaho taxpayers (not the feds) an estimated $3-4 million annually to administrate. First reports from Idaho Department of Health and Welfare estimated three full-time workers, but revised to 22 if “sidebars” are added creating additional paperwork.

For all lawmakers’ talk of maintaining “fiscal responsibility,” what we’re seeing is a deliberate push toward higher costs with fewer citizens being helped. Citizens are not interested in growing government with more layers of wasteful bureaucracy. A clear choice was made at the polls to help our neighbors and reduce uncompensated care at our rural hospitals.

Insist Boise legislators stop trying to create problems by attaching bureaucratic “sidebars.” Have they forgotten, more people voted in favor of Prop 2 than voted for any candidate in the last election?

Voting in Boise takes place soon. Please leave message with your senator, representatives and Gov. Little, (208) 334-2100, that it’s time for them to honor Idaho citizens’ decision with no-frills funding of our “Prop 2 Law.”

Rebecca Holland

Sandpoint