As a citizen
legislator, I believe I have an obligation to help create opportunities for all
of us through adequate and affordable education and health care, a strong
economy, human rights and a sound environment.
Unfortunately, every session presents us with bills which ignore the
right of our local citizens to decide how to build livable and prosperous communities. These bills seek to concentrate power in the
Statehouse by putting the state in charge of a growing number of uniquely local
matters. With this in mind, here is a look at two particularly
egregious items on the current agenda.
Disposable
Containers and Plastic Bags
If HB 372, which
recently passed the House, is passed by the Senate and becomes law, local
governments will be barred from regulating disposable containers and
plastic bags. All such regulation will be taken over by the Legislature, even
though it is the disposal services and landfills of local communities which
must deal with these items. HB 372
appears to represent a desire to micro-manage local communities from the
Statehouse.
Minimum
Wages
The House has
introduced a bill (HB 463) prohibiting cities and counties from setting minimum
wages higher than the state minimum wage of $7.25 per hour. During the
debate on introduction, House Minority Leader John Rusche pointed out
that the high cost of living in McCall has effectively driven out low-wage
service workers who can no longer afford to live in town. A number of our
communities face this type of challenge, and I believe they should retain the
ability to decide this issue.
While some in the
Legislature seemingly want to be everyone’s city council and county commission,
the things the Legislature should really be focused on are not getting done.
Medicaid
Expansion
This last week, the
Senate and House Health and Welfare Committees held a joint hearing on SB 1204
and SB 1205 which would expand Medicaid to cover the working poor. These are the 78,000 Idahoans who earn too
much to be on Medicaid and too little to receive subsidized health
insurance. As with the first hearing in
the Senate Health and Welfare Committee, the committees were not allowed to
vote on these bills, even though both hearings showed overwhelming public
support for expansion. Indeed, only one
person testified against expansion.
Medicaid
expansion is probably the single most important thing Idaho could do quickly to
improve our economy and the health of our citizens. Right now we pay federal taxes with our
precious dollars so that other states can expand Medicaid. Since our federal tax dollars are not
returning to us with our own Medicaid expansion, they are forever lost to us. With Medicaid expansion we will receive
approximately $500 Million in direct Medicaid payments from the federal
government. This could multiply in our
economy to approximately $1 Billion while also improving the lives of the
working poor who may find that improved health gives them greater economic
opportunity. It will also create high
paying health care jobs in the Treasure Valley and other parts of Idaho, and
lead to the construction of additional health care facilities as our ability to
provide people needed medical services grows.
The State’s approximate $30 Million first year cost to expand Medicaid,
which does not account for savings through the elimination of current indigent
care programs, looks like a very good investment for our state.
I believe that
legislators need to have the courage to do their job and vote on this important
issue.
You are cordially
invited to meet with me and my District 16 colleagues, Representatives Hy Kloc
and John McCrostie, at our next Townhall Meeting, where we will be handing out
copies of our Creating Opportunity Plan involving over 16 pieces of specific
legislation. Here are the details for
the meeting:
Tuesday, February 23, 7 p.m.
Library! at Cole and Ustick
7557 W Ustick Rd, Boise, ID
83704
Our previous Townhall
meetings were well attended and we enjoyed the lively discussion and excellent
questions.
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