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January 11, 2012

What’s At Stake In Idaho’s Health Insurance Exchange Debate

It’s shaping up to be one of the main debates of the legislative session: whether Idaho will create its own health insurance exchange or reject more than $20 million in federal grant money, leaving the federal government to craft an exchange. Health insurance exchanges are a critical component of the Affordable Care Act. They’re often […]

January 5, 2012

At AP Preview, Split Views of State Health Insurance Exchange

In order for Idaho to pursue a state-run exchange, the Legislature must sign off this session on spending federal grant dollars. Idaho Department of Insurance Director Bill Deal, Rep. Vito Barbieri (R-Dalton Gardens) and the Idaho Association of Commerce and Industry’s Alex LaBeau presented their views of the exchange this morning, offering a preview of […]

December 23, 2011

Governor Otter: New Health Care Law Hurts Idaho Job Creation

At Governor C.L. “Butch” Otter’s annual State of the State Address last January he said federal programs, like the Affordable Care Act hurt local job creation. “For businesses, economic and financial uncertainty caused in large part by misguided federal programs and policies are undermining confidence in the marketplace. Employers have no idea what it will cost […]

December 22, 2011

Benefits for Long-Term Unemployed May Be Extended

House Republicans have reportedly reversed their stance on extending a payroll tax cut and benefits for the long-term unemployed this afternoon. The Associated Press and Reuters report the House will vote on the measure. This means about 12,000 Idahoans who’ve been out of work for more than six months will continue to receive extended federal […]

Governor Otter: Any Tax Cuts Need to be Phased In

Talk of lowering taxes has already started among Idaho lawmakers. At the Associated Taxpayers Conference earlier this month, legislative leaders said proposals to lower Idaho’s corporate tax and individual income tax rates will be part of the discussion. Sen. Brent Hill (R-Rexburg) says lowering taxes this session will be met with resistance, and will likely […]

December 20, 2011

Governor Otter: The State Can’t Reject a Federal Unemployment Benefit Extension

The Idaho Department of Labor estimates about 1,500 people would lose their weekly unemployment payment immediately if federal benefits are allowed to expire at the end of the month. Additionally, the department estimates about 300 Idahoans would drop off the federal program every week through mid-June. Extended benefits for the long-term unemployed are tangled in […]

December 14, 2011

A Federal Judge Orders Idaho to Increase Some Medicaid Payments

The Associated Press and Boise Weekly are reporting a federal judge has ordered Idaho’s Department of Health and Welfare to increase Medicaid reimbursement rates for businesses providing residential care to developmentally disabled residents. The ruling could cost the state $4 million. U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill made the ruling Monday. The decision came after […]

December 9, 2011

Medicaid Cuts May Prove Hard to Reverse

Medicaid service providers and advocates for people who receive Medicaid voice many concerns about the nearly $35 million cut in state spending approved by the Idaho Legislature early this year. Underlying their anxiety about provider layoffs and service reductions for adult Medicaid recipients is the fact that all of the changes approved in the last […]

December 7, 2011

Six Months In, Evaluating The Effects Of A Medicaid Cut

It’s relatively simple to describe the Medicaid cut approved by the Idaho Legislature early this year. State leaders made about $35 million in targeted cuts. That meant fewer federal matching dollars, and a total funding loss of nearly $100 million to the state’s Medicaid program. The economic and personal reverberations are more difficult to tally, […]

December 5, 2011

How To Contact Your Legislator

The state legislature’s website lists phone numbers and standard email forms for each legislator. You can to search for your lawmaker by legislative district or by name. If you don’t know either of those, the website provides contact info for your county’s election official, who will be able to give you the right information. The […]

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