Legislative committee supports Medicaid expansion vote

By a vote of 7-5, the House Health and Welfare Committee has rejected proposed legislation to repeal Medicaid expansion.

Supporters of the measure argued that voters were misinformed when they voted by a super-majority. Among those were Idaho Falls Representatives Bryan Zollinger and Chad Christensen.

But, opponents of the repeal said lawmakers had more than enough time to debate the issue over the past several years. They argued that Idaho voters approved the measure and their will should be honored.

Sponsor Representative John Green also proposed a second measure that would allow the legislature to reject the expansion in 2022. He argued that “voters dug a big hole and asked legislators to jump in.”

Supporters of the public vote, however, argued voters were well informed about what they were voting on.

That measure was also defeated in committee by a vote of 7-5.