OPINION: Legislature should require an impact statement on health-related bills
“Your money or your life” is a phrase attributed to robbers since time immemorial. The robber blurts it out, giving the victim a stark choice. The victim can then mull it over quickly and decide the wisdom of proceeding one way or the other. The Idaho Legislature has not been as open as these highwaymen, giving their cohorts and the public only one side of legislation affecting the lives and health of their constituents.
While our lawmakers are required to provide a fiscal impact statement with each legislative measure (and truth be told, the statements are often wild estimates), there is absolutely no requirement for them to spell out the impact that health-related legislation will have on the lives of the people. That information would certainly be more important than a calculation of the monetary cost.
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