Idaho Nullificationists Poised To Kill Medicaid In That State (14.4% of population)

[underpants]

The Idaho state legislature is on the verge of enacting an unconstitutional bill nullifying the Affordable Care Act. Yet, while Idaho’s proposed act of nullification would have no impact whatsoever on the ACA itself, the Idaho Attorney General’s office warns that it could lead to a serious unintended consequence for the people of Idaho:

An additional legal ramification that must be considered as RS 20315 is contemplated is its effect on existing and future Idaho participation in the Medicaid Program. As a purely voluntary program, Idaho’s refusal to comply with the expanded provisions within the PPACA could potentially result in Idaho exiting the program and losing the existent federal matching funds. This could create a situation where individuals presently covered would no longer be covered, yet still require medical treatment, which likely would be required to be provided for and paid for through some non-federal means. This situation, in turn, could create an intense burden on the State’s
budget.

Medicaid is an entirely voluntary program in which the federal government provides generous grants to the states on the condition that the states comply with certain conditions. Yet, by attempting to nullify the ACA, Idaho would be refusing to comply with the voluntary conditions on its Medicaid funding spelled out in the ACA itself. Accordingly, nullification could have the effect of withdrawing Idaho from the Medicaid program altogether.
http://thinkprogress.org/2011/02/12/idaho-medicaid/

Idaho population 1,545,801
http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/16000.html

This isn’t just a debating exercise: 223,198 Idahoans — the state’s poorest, sickest and oldest citizens — stand to lose benefits.
http://www.magicvalley.com/news/opinion/editorial/article_9ecd8c6b-8f74-58a9-8ba9-2d7931764c18.html

[LiberalFighter]

1. Could this result in a tsunami of Democrats getting elected from local to federal levels?

[Odin2005]

3. No, it's Idaho.

They are all racists, fundies, and libertarian-survivalists.

[IDemo]

4. Not all of us are

There are plenty here who don't fit that description. But the Democrats who do call this home have steadily lost ground since the defeat of Frank Church and it's basically become an exercise in p#**ing in the wind to get one of our own elected. I know that was a very long time ago, but the Reagan years saw the Idaho Statehouse become a whack wing clubhouse, and a steady line of nuts have been sent to congress since.

Steve Symms - "The Russians may be burrowing through the crust of the earth with a subterrine (a sub with a large drill bit on front) to invade the US."

Helen Chenoweth - "Salmon aren't endangered - I can buy them off the shelf at Albertsons."

Larry Craig - "Knock three times on the stall if you need me."

It's political hell for a Democrat, much less a flaming liberal like me.

[catabryna]

5. I'm so sorry...

really. I lived there... and then some time after that I moved to Texas!

But now I'm in Oregon, so I definitely feel for you. Been there, done that. :hug:

[Cleita]

7. I used to live there in the panhandle. It was

maddening how politically unsavy the average working class Idahoan is and how they allow themselves to be led by a ring in the nose by ruthless Republican politicians who are bought and paid for by special interests. Yet you could never convince them how they are being used even with the proof in black and white in front of them.

[virgogal]

2. Jesus,more attacks on the powerless.

[Cleita]

6. That's too bad.

Food stamps and Medicaid are how many families get by in Idaho because work is often seasonal and low paying.

[salin]

8. and the GOP raises the spector of make-believe "death panels" to get votes

while they are the ones to push policies to push the poor into life and death choices (go to the ER and go bankrupt, or don't go and risk the health consequence - even when the situation is a life and death situation. The irony is sickening.