Exactly as we suggested, in no uncertain terms, this debacle would turn out. Some have even suggested the abdication of their legislative authority to the Governor would be the tipping point. Tipping us into a Modern Day Inquisition period that would be worse than the Spanish Inquisition. This is worth the time to read AND CONSIDER TELLING YOUR NEIGHBOR ABOUT BEFORE THE PRIMARY MAY 20TH. The state health insurance exchange was a costly mistake, and our liberal incumbents should pay the price, writes Ronald M. Nate, Ph.D. Last year, Idaho’s legislature and Governor Otter succumbed to Obamacare’s desperate pleas to establish a state health insurance exchange (HIX). What does Idaho have to show for it? Exorbitant costs, zero benefits and none of what was promised. Instead of dumping the failed idea, our incumbent legislators are breaking their promise: “If we don’t like it, we can always get out of it.” So far the HIX has cost $20.3 million in planning and $40.8 million for the technology and security phase. Additionally, Idaho applied for a $70 million Level I Establishment Grant from the federal government. That’s nearly $1,200 per customer sign-up; and those are only sign-up costs. Shockingly, despite these high costs, Idaho has yet to accomplish its HIX — we are using the federal HIX anyway! We are told that a state HIX provides for local control, but that is another false promise. According to the Washington Examiner, the Obamacare law “empowers the secretary (Sebelius, at the time) to require state-funded exchanges to operate exactly as she would operate a federal exchange.” Our only real “control” was to choose a name, colors and website design. There are also legal ramifications. Now that Idaho is a co-administrator of Obamacare, we lose the ability to sue for future infringements that the law may impose on Idahoans. Also, there is the pending legal question about the individual mandate. Obamacare’s mandate applies only to state HIX customers, but not federal HIX customers. Therefore, keeping our state HIX may cement the individual mandate for Idahoans. Obamacare does not protect religious liberties of employers and it includes definite pro-choice stipulations. Idaho Chooses Life (ICL) recommended rejecting the HIX and further proposed an amendment to protect employers from being forced to violate their religious and pro-life beliefs (e.g. Hobby Lobby). Our liberal legislators rebuffed ICL on both counts. Special interests are also to blame. Big healthcare (hospitals, insurers, drug companies) and business coalitions applied heavy lobbying pressure on legislators until they finally caved. These groups poured money into legislators’ campaigns (Sen. Brent Hill got thousands from insurers and providers) and the HIX law shielded big healthcare from out-of-state competitors. They now have monopoly power in Idaho. Idaho’s healthcare costs will be higher as a result. Other states, like Utah and Oregon, have dumped their HIXs, and Oklahoma went further by suing to block the federal government from establishing one. Idaho should follow their lead. Only 16 states have a state HIX, and Idaho is the only Republican-led state to be an Obamacare puppet. Our legislators sold out. Idaho’s HIX is an expensive, colossal mistake. We should dump it and the legislators who voted for it — especially those who continue to put lipstick on this ugly, ugly pig. RONALD M. NATE, Ph.D., Economics Professor Board of Scholars for the Idaho Freedom Foundation Rexburg
Posted on: Sat, 03 May 2014 17:44:39 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015