Boise (670 KBOI News) – Two bills in the Idaho House Health and Welfare Committee, dealing with repealing the Medicaid expansion law passed by voters in November, are dead, after 7-5 votes this morning.
Both draft bills were sponsored by Representatives Julianne Young of Blackfoot and John Green of Post Falls.
Introducing the first draft, Young said the people of Idaho were duped by pre-election ads in the media.
“TV ads claimed it would simply bring federal dollars back to Idaho, and that the savings that would result from Medicaid expansion, would mostly cover the state’s share of the cost,” said Young. “This is not likely to be true. Expansion in other states has, on average, cost more than double what it was projected.”
Green presented the second draft bill, which would essentially be an escape hatch if voters got buyer’s remorse after four years of Medicaid expansion.
Both lawmakers predicted Prop 2 would wind up costing way more than voters were told it would…but the committee voted to not print either draft bill.
