REDMAN: Doesn’t listen to constituents

Three years into his time representing us in Boise, Jordan Redman has shown some clear strengths and weaknesses. His strength is clearly working with east coast policy groups to take their pre-written, model legislation, put his name on it and introduce it on their behalf, hoping to take health care access from thousands of our friends and neighbors. Last year he briefly introduced such a bill in committee, then yielded his time to his new, visiting friend and sat by his side for the duration of the presentation. He was a very good listener.

What he’s not so good at — his colleague, Carl Bjerke has the same issue — is using those listening skills to hear constituents. Over the past two years, hundreds of Idaho voters have made it clear that voter-initiated Medicaid expansion is working, needed and should be left alone to serve those who need it. And in a state with the lowest federally allowed minimum wage — $7.25 an hour — and an unemployment rate of less than 4%, we have plenty of hard-working poor folks.

Yet Redman and Bjerke’s desire to strip health care from their constituents is steadfast, suggesting a state with a consistent budget surplus is straining to maintain the program. Redman, Bjerke and their colleagues passed House Bill 325 last week, putting huge blockades of government bureaucracy in the form of work-reporting requirements and shifts of program oversight, which will make sure enough people encounter enough issues to drive them off the rolls.

Please keep in mind, when your friends and family lose coverage — or you lose yours — that it’s part of the Redman-Bjerke plan

PATRICK HANLON

Coeur d’Alene