Medicaid initiative edges closer to November ballot
If the signatures check out, the move gives voters a chance to sidestep the Legislature and extend Medicaid eligibility to an estimated 51,000 to 62,000 Idahoans who currently earn too much to qualify for the program and too little to qualify for federal health insurance subsidies.
Reclaim
The group also met the geographic distribution requirement, she said. Volunteers gathered signatures from at least 6 percent of registered voters in 20 of
"All notarized petitions have to be turned in to the various county clerk offices by
Reclaim
For
"It's always hard for me to say, 'Hey, we can win,' " Schmidt said. "To watch this process over the last six, eight months has really given me a shot in the arm. It has helped restore my faith in grass-roots efforts."
Two years ago Schmidt -- then a state senator representing the
"It's not fair that I get this benefit and the Legislature doesn't give it to Idahoans who can't afford it," he said at the time. "If you're in a situation that isn't fair, you work to change it or you get out. I'm trying to nudge folks to feel a sense of urgency about this and do the right thing."
Schmidt's gesture had little immediate effect; lawmakers failed to take up the issue that session, or in 2017. They followed a similar course earlier this year when the House refused -- twice -- to even debate an alternative proposal that would have extended health insurance to about half the gap population.
However, Schmidt's gesture did catch the eye of Emily and
"It certainly inspired us to want to work with him,"
The wording of the initiative petition -- which calls for expanding Medicaid eligibility to all adults younger than 65 who earn less than 133 percent of the federal poverty level -- actually came from a bill Schmidt introduced in 2016.
"I first met with (the Reclaim Idaho co-founders) last summer," Schmidt recalled. "At that point they were talking about starting an initiative. I didn't think they could do it; it's just really tough. But they had a vision."
He met with them again last fall to discuss the language on the petition. He still didn't think they had a chance, but after the petition drive began in January, he began gathering signatures.
Working with other volunteers, Schmidt hit
"I'm amazed that district qualified," he said. "In late January I was talking to someone in
Former state Sen.
"I got involved last October after reading that someone took the petition language to the secretary of state's office (for approval)," Beitelspacher said Monday. "I got on the phone to find out who was behind it."
Like Schmidt, he thought it would be difficult for the initiative to meet all the requirements -- and he had little hope that
"Of all the districts that could qualify, I figured
"We had a party (Sunday) night for a lot of
Schmidt said when he gave up his insurance two years ago, "my goal was to inspire the Legislature to at least consider this issue. I was looking to change the Legislature -- but there are other ways to enact change as well." -- Spence may be contacted at [email protected] or (208) 791-9168.
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