Ongoing issues after state legislative session

Local lawmakers are home after the 2016 legislative session ended last Friday. There were successes and frustrations for both political parties. One of the biggest issues both parties worked very hard on was closing the health care gap

Closing that gap would have provided health insurance to 78-thousand Idahoans who don’t currently have it. Many lawmakers hoped to offer solutions this year, but fell short in the final days of the session. Senator Roy Lacey and State Representative Kelly Packer gave their thoughts about the issue Tuesday.

“I hope that the committee meets and they put together what they think is the best option of moving forward for health care in Idaho. And that we’re able to take care of our healthcare delivery system in Idaho in a better manner,” said Rep. Packer.

“We need to provide insurance. We have the insurance to do it. It’s called healthy Idaho developed by the Health and Welfare Dept. It’s a hybrid. It’s the Idaho way of making the medicaid expansion work,” said Sen. Lacey.

Senator Lacey says the minimum wage in Idaho is another ongoing issue that he hopes will be taken care of in the near future.

He says he plans to retire in December.