Here in Idaho, we’re so determined to be the reddest of the red states, we write our budget in red ink. Recently, our legislators voted against accepting Expanded Medicaid coverage, blocking benefits to thousands of would-be recipients throughout the state. As a substitute, Gov. Otter trotted out a state health care plan that will be funded by cigarette taxes. Actually, many programs currently financed by the sale of cigarettes will be redirected to draw from the general fund. Otter has characterized the new state-funded program as “Idahoans helping Idahoans.”

The Governor’s rather clumsy shell game fails to hide, in reality, there is no reliable revenue stream that will sustain the program into the future. It takes a lot of smokers to cough up $300 million. That’s the price tag. No matter how you look at it, that’s an awfully big hand reaching into the till. It’s funny because on every one of my paychecks there’s a deduction for Medicare taxes. That was money well spent. Thank God we have our own homegrown bandits to protect us from the evils of Big Government. Basically, our legislators threw away the existent federally-funded program which would have offered far greater benefits to Idaho residents than any plan the state will be able to implement or afford. Of course, the people who are primarily affected by these unsettling circumstances are older folks and those who are facing medical issues. If the goal is for Idahoans to help Idahoans, our congressmen missed their chance when they rejected Expanded Medicaid.

What prompted them to vote as they did? From what I’ve read, they felt if they allowed Expanded Medicaid to go forward they would have to fight to repeal it at some later time as part of their overall

strategy to defeat Obamacare. Even if one does not agree with their stated ambition, in other circumstances, their stubborn clinging to principle may seem laudable. However, in this instance, they are not the ones who will suffer the consequences of their actions. As a perk of office, they and their families are guaranteed the best health care coverage available. There is little nobility in pushing the old and the unwell to the front lines of the pitched battle on health care. No doubt, people will die for lack of the kind of protection Expanded Medicaid would have provided.

Lawmakers are sent to Boise with the implicit duty to serve in the best interests of all the citizens in the state. In this instance, advancing the Republican agenda was far more enticing.

In general, those who occupy the seats in our State Capital appear to be a churchy group. Many of them regularly tout their faith to the voters. Since I’m not what anyone would consider devout, I’m willing to concede they may know something I don’t. I’m going to trust their guiding hand to turn through the chapters of the Bible and point out the passage where Christ turns His back on humanity, It’s been a long time; maybe I don’t correctly remember the lesson of the Good Samaritian.

Russ Fahlgren is a resident of Worley.