State health insurance exchange topped Idaho Legislature’s week [Lewiston Tribune, Idaho]

Feb. 09--BOISE -- Republicans voted for a state health insurance exchange, the Youth Challenge prevailed and "Atlas Shrugged" saw a healthy debate during week five of the Idaho Legislature.

The hottest issue was Gov. C.L. (Butch) Otter's proposal to create a 16-member board with authority to develop and manage a state-based insurance exchange.

Otter broke with the Idaho Republican Party in recommending the state exchange. While opposing the Affordable Care Act, he said Idahoans are best served by keeping a "seat at the table" and having some input into what type of insurance plans and benefits are offered through the online marketplace.

That perspective failed to sway Hidden Springs veteran Tony Snesko, one of several people who spoke against the bill during a Senate Commerce and Human Resources Committee public hearing Thursday.

"We firmly believe Obamacare would go bankrupt if it didn't have the power to raise fees and tax Idaho businesses and citizens to keep it afloat," Snesko said. "When the federal government gets its nose under our tent, its entire body will follow and we'll never get this socialist program out of Idaho. That will be your legacy if you approve this exchange."

Sen. Branden Durst, D-Boise, supports the Affordable Care Act, as well as a state exchange, but voted against the governor's bill because of concerns about legislative oversight.

"In approving this legislation, I believe we are abdicating our responsibility of oversight and of appropriation," he said. "We're going to let an independent body start making huge decisions about health care policy in Idaho. Is that something we're comfortable with?"

Republicans on the committee unanimously supported the bill, although most said they despised the Affordable Care Act.

"Some would argue we should do nothing, (but) in my judgment abandoning the battlefield doesn't make the federal government weaker. It makes it stronger," said Sen. Dean Cameron, R-Rupert. "I believe the hidden motive of the Affordable Care Act is to move us to a single-payer system. Refusing to set up a state exchange empowers the federal government and allows it to move us towards that single-payer system quicker."

The commerce committee voted 8-1 to send the bill to the full Senate with a favorable recommendation. If it passes that body, it will likely face a tougher challenge in the House.

On the budget front, the National Guard Youth Challenge Program had a good week.

The joint budget committee approved $1.39 million in startup funding for the boot camp-style residential program, which will be based in Pierce. The money allows it to move ahead with hiring the initial staff and ordering the modular housing units needed to accommodate 120 high school dropouts ages 16 to 18.

Derek Newland, who recently retired as comptroller and chief financial officer for the Idaho Air National Guard, was chosen to be the first director of the program.

The Youth Challenge will create upward of 50 jobs in Clearwater County, which historically has one of the highest unemployment rates in the state. County Commissioners John Allen and Don Ebert were in Boise for the budget committee vote.

"We've been waiting for this. We want to see the doors open," Ebert said.

In other news, Senate Education Committee Chairman John Goedde, R-Coeur d'Alene, did his part to keep things light. He introduced a joke bill to require all high school students to pass a test on Ayn Rand's novel, "Atlas Shrugged," before they graduate.

Goedde said he chose that book because it turned his son into a Republican.

The real point of the bill, however, was to caution the State Board of Education about ignoring legislative policy directives on issues like online course requirements, he said.

Coming up next week: The joint budget committee will wrap up its last few agency presentations and pick the revenue number around which the fiscal 2014 budgets will be built.

Spence may be contacted at bspence@lmtribune.com or (208) 791-9168.

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