PROP 2: A healthy 'yes'

As a volunteer who stumped for countless hours along with many hundreds of citizens from all parts of Idaho to get Medicaid expansion on the ballot to cover the 62,000 (5,000 of those are veterans) uninsured working poor in Idaho, I can tell you truthfully that people of all political parties signed that petition and health care was a priority for everyone I spoke with… It couldn’t have gotten on the ballot if it weren’t supported equally by all parties in the state. It was truly a volunteer, nonpartisan citizens initiative that had to go through a very rigorous process in order to get on the ballot.

I applaud candidates who are now willing to back the will of the citizens they hope to be elected to serve. Proposition 2 would save the state and its hardworking taxpayers millions of dollars and would help save rural hospitals so it just makes sound fiscal sense.

Doctors and hospitals across Idaho are endorsing this citizens initiative as well. Our state Legislature has done nothing in the last six years to cover the uninsured, so in my opinion, it’s time for a change and it’s time to vote for leaders who will listen to the citizens’ top priorities which are health care, education and saving taxpayer money. Proposition 2 would SAVE our state money, not cost our state money, and would create more jobs in the health care industry. Montana voted to expand Medicaid last year and already saved $30 million. Governor Otter’s task force that studied the issue recommended that Idaho should enact Medicaid expansion.

For more information, go to reclaimidaho.org. Yes on 2 to save money and lives!

NANCY MERTZ

Coeur d’Alene