In memory of Jenny Steinke

Carrie: I feel badly about the tragic death of 36-year-old Idaho resident Jenny Steinke.

Jerry: So do I. What’s so troubling is she died needlessly. Some call it “death by poverty” because she didn’t have health insurance to cover the cost of treating her asthma before it became fatal.

Carrie: Like 78,000 other “working poor” Idahoans, Jenny’s family fell into the “Medicaid gap.” They make too much to qualify for Medicaid but not enough to qualify for federal subsidies through Obamacare. Our state Legislature could fix this but, so far, the Republican leadership has blocked all such efforts. They won’t even print a bill which would allow for a public hearing to simply talk about it.

Jerry: It doesn’t make sense. Covering the Medicaid gap would save Idaho $173 million over the next 10 years by eliminating the county and state catastrophic funds, etc. Think how that money could be used instead for roads, bridges, education and tax relief.

Carrie: Our Republican legislative leaders don’t seem to care about the money savings. Their latest excuse is that the Republicans will win the White House next year and repeal Obamacare in 2017.

Jerry: When you are looking for a reason not to do something, any excuse is good enough. Remember, their first excuse was that the Supreme Court would rule it unconstitutional. But that didn’t happen.

Carrie: They always come up with some lame rationale to avoid doing anything. I think the real issue is that they hate Obamacare and are afraid that accepting federal money to pay health coverage for the working poor will make Idaho weak and dependent.

Jerry: Interestingly, our Legislature doesn’t mind accepting a very generous health insurance package for their own families, paid for by us taxpayers.

Carrie: Although they serve only a few months each year, they are treated as full-time employees for insurance purposes. The most popular plan costs them only $171/month and covers their entire family with only a $750 deductible.

Jerry: I hope their plan includes psychiatric care?

Carrie: Actually it does.

Jerry: Wow! I bet there are a lot of low income families who would like that package!

Carrie: Unfortunately, any kind of affordable plan for the working poor is being blocked by the House and Senate leadership. Specifically, House Speaker Scott Bedke and Majority Leader Mike Moyle are adamantly opposed to accepting federal dollars to solve this problem.

Jerry: Well, you have to admire their nerve. On the one hand, they won’t accept federal dollars to provide health coverage for the working poor. But their other hand is outstretched for federal money for their own personal benefit.

Carrie: What do you mean?

Jerry: According to USDA figures provided to the Environmental Working Group website www.farm.ewg.org, Speaker Bedke and his family’s Winecup ranch have received over $459,000 in federal farm subsidies between 1995 and 2012. That doesn’t include the subsidized federal grazing that a large operation like his uses to run cattle.

Carrie: Hmmm... Between 1995 and 2012, Idaho House Majority Leader Mike Moyle has received over $181,000 in federal farm subsidies. House Majority Caucus Chair John Vander Woude received over $86,000 between 1995 and 2005.

Jerry: That’s only the tip of the iceberg for federal farm subsidies. Statewide, between 1995 and 2012, millions of dollars in federal farm subsidies have gone into the pockets of many Idaho legislators. In North Idaho, Sen. Steve Vick, R-Dalton Gardens, received over $26,000 between 2001 and 2007. Did you know that Sen. Sheryl Nuxoll, R-Cottonwood, and her husband, Felix, received over $234,000 between 1995 and 2012?

Carrie: That’s rich! Senator Nuxoll is always complaining about federal spending.

Jerry: That kind of money would buy a lot of health coverage for Idaho’s working poor. Is there anything we average citizens can do to change their minds?

Carrie: Grassroots pressure is needed. Citizens should send an email asking our legislative leaders to close the Medicaid gap. Their addresses are included on this page.

Jerry: Clearly this problem demands “endless pressure, endlessly applied” by the citizens of Idaho.

Jerry Scheid is a retired farmer/rancher and native Idahoan. Carrie Scheid is a retired nonprofit administrator. They live in Idaho Falls.