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Idaho citizens’ Prop 2 ballot initiative passed into law in November. By a vote of 61 percent to 39 percent, we authorized Medicaid expansion to provide access to preventative healthcare services for low-income residents with the feds covering 90 percent and state 10 percent of program cost.

Now, Boise lawmakers are attempting to saddle our law with added requirements that will cost Idaho taxpayers (not feds) an estimated $3-4 million annually to administrate. First reports say Idaho Department of Health & Welfare figured they’d need three full-time workers; but revised it to 22 for handling additional paperwork, if “sidebars” are added.

For all lawmakers’ usual talk of maintaining “fiscal-responsibility,” what we’re seeing is a deliberate push toward higher costs with fewer citizens being helped. Their twisted rhetoric comes straight out of the playbook of insurance lobbyists and other big money manipulators.

Citizens are not interested in growing government with more layers of wasteful bureaucracy. We made a very clear choice at the polls to help our neighbors and reduce uncompensated care at our rural hospitals. That’s where our money needs to go!

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

Voting in Boise will take place soon. Please leave voice message with Sen. Jim Woodward, 208-332-1349; Rep. Sage Dixon, 208-332-1185, Gov. Brad 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