The Idaho House delivered Gov. Butch Otter the most significant legislative victory of his six years in office Wednesday, passing his bill establishing a state-run health insurance exchange.
The 41-29 vote on House Bill 248 came after a two-year effort, seven hours of debate and over fierce objections from the GOP’s tea party and pro-life wings. Forty-six lawmakers spoke.
The bill now moves to the Senate, where another long debate may follow. But after a 23-12 vote on the Senate version, passage is likely.
Critical to Otter’s win was December’s election of House Speaker Scott Bedke, R-Oakley, which changed the balance of power in the House.
Bedke oversaw the debate with a firm, respectful hand. His manner reflected his view that despite revulsion for President Obama’s Affordable Care Act, a state-operated plan is superior to a federal exchange because it will save Idaho jobs, be less expensive to run and more responsive to consumers.
Early last year, Otter backed away from his plan because of opposition from then-Speaker Lawerence Denney, R-Midvale. On Wednesday, Denney debated against HB 248 and for an effort to sidetrack the bill for an anti-abortion amendment.
Denney’s top ally, Majority Leader Mike Moyle, R-Star, gave an impassioned 12-minute speech that prompted applause from exchange foes in the gallery. Moyle said a state exchange is “hogwash” and a fiction; Idahoans running it would be reduced to “sock puppets” following federal orders.
“Don’t get wrapped around all those lobbyists that are taking you to dinner. Don’t get wrapped around all those things you see on your computer. Just step back,” Moyle said, pounding his chest with a fist. “How’s it feel in here? Right there. Because if you have any doubt, you better vote no.”
The floor sponsor, Health and Welfare Committee Chairman Fred Wood, R-Burley, was on his feet for about two hours, debating and fielding dozens of questions, chiefly from opponents.
“We don’t have the choice to not have an exchange,” Wood said over and again in various ways, reminding the House that the feds will step in if Idaho takes a pass. “This is a big picture issue.”
Rep. Frank Henderson, R-Post Falls, said he was proud to back the bill as “an unambiguous assertion of state sovereignty.”
The abortion gambit provided the sharpest threat. Moyle and Rep. Lynn Luker, R-Boise, said the governor’s office rejected an abortion amendment during a week-long pause Bedke ordered to allow revisions of the Senate-passed Senate Bill 1042.
But the motion to sidetrack the bill for amendment failed, 38-32.
Rep. Vito Barbieri, R-Dalton Gardens, reprised a claim made in the Senate that “Plan B” and “Ella” drugs induce abortion, violating personal conscience and religious freedom.
The House’s two physicians — Chairman Wood and House Minority Leader John Rusche — said the drugs are not prescribed to end pregnancy. “There is no evidence that Plan B or Ella are abortifacients,” said Rusche, D-Lewiston. “They are contraceptives.”
Wood reminded the House that the 2012 Legislature passed a law invoking an opt-out provision in Obamacare that prohibits an Idaho exchange from offering abortion coverage.
Rep. Rick Youngblood, R-Nampa, one of the key freshman backing HB 248, said the amendment was unnecessary and resisted any suggestion he was weak on abortion. “I am offended by this amendment,” he said. “I am a pro-life Republican.”
Otter and his aides, particularly Chief of Staff David Hensley, combined patience, persistence and public and private pressure. They enlisted a broad coalition of business interests, led by insurers and health care providers, who paid for all those dinners Moyle mentioned.
Other than Otter, none was more pivotal than Bedke, who bared his neck knowing he had a deeply divided caucus. Among the 57 Republicans, 28 voted for the bill, 29 voted no. All 13 Democrats voted aye.
Had Otter lost this fight, it would have emboldened GOP Congressman Raul Labrador’s talk of a primary challenge in 2014. Labrador took the rare step of lobbying state lawmakers against the exchange.
As a member of the Legislature in 2009, Labrador helped defeat the governor’s press to boost transportation taxes. This time, with plenty of help, Otter carried the day, significantly strengthening his prospects for re-election.
Legislators listen to the will of the majority of Idaho voters. Wayne Hoffman and the Tea Party lose again. Why are so many legislators so afraid of these guys?
The big bad Tea Party. Ooh, they are so scary that the left has to demonize them every chance they get. In my opinion the Tea Party represents common sense and American values not leftist ideology. Just more Obama rhetoric, “bash the Tea Party so we can get our agenda thru”. How pathetic and insulting.
The Tea Party and the others that paid for propagandistic radio ads that were filled with falsehoods and twisted ommisions hurt their cause.
The idea that the Feds would fold was ridiculous. In fact 25 states have chosen either state exchange or joint federal/state exchange. The HHS official charged with fielding exchanges, both federal and state, has recently stated they both will be ready to go by Oct 1, 2013, the first day of open season.
And there is strong evidence that the Fed’s one -size- fits- all exchanges would not have been the best cost-wise for Idaho.
Neither is there evidence that “most of the people” were opposed to a state exchange except in the stimulated imagination of its opponents, who don’t lose gracefully even after the Supreme Court and Obama’s win dashed all hopes of failure. Give Otter credit, he is not an anarchist clamoring about “the holocaust” as some have today.
This victory gives Otter a stonger chance of making the cost reduction case for accpepting the the expanded Medicaid program which would reduce net costs to Idaho’s indigent and catatrophic health care expenses.
Dumbell or Democrat, Obamacare is ruining medical care and we the people are payiing for it. Why don’t you Mike ask all those legislators if they would accept the same medical programs the people get? The same Social Security?
Obamacare is costing a lot more than money, it costing quality health care. Anyone who supports Nobamacare is ignorant of the true costs like you Mikey. The radio ads are not propaganda. You twit.
Either you work for the Democratic party or have a vested interest in NObamacare being set up in Idaho. There is no other possible reasons an objective man could have. We know Butch had a $21 million interest in Nobamacare. I am in the medical business and I am seeing the loss of jobs in the medical business and other business’ being forced to take the Nobamacare mandates. The is the real story not your propaganda.
“Strong evidence” huh, Mikey? I wonder what that is Mikey? Your comments are heart warming.
“The victory gives Otter the chance of cost reduction……” oh, really? Let’s see it is costing in literal terms more in taxes and costing other things, like jobs, futher reductions in health care, hospitals forced to shut down. You call that cost reduction, how convenient. Who is calling the kettle black?
I have not heard any details about the difference between the federal exchange and a state-run exchange – anywhere, including the Idaho Statesman. Legislators have claimed that the State of Idaho would have more “oversight” of the state-run exchange, but I’m not sure I want THEM overseeing anything.
@Rod, you got it right. There is no difference and that is Butch’s narrative or excuse for pushing Nobamacare thru.
All one has to do and read the studies and realize Nobamacare is a massive financial failure and that it is ideology before anything else.
One thing that was not estimated was how many jobs Nobamacare would cost. It was suppose to be cost neutral and it is not. It is expanding beaucracy and creating more expense,ie, 1500 IRS jobs. There is nothing good about Nobamacare. Your new doctor will be a nurse because physicians are totally against it and will leave the profession as in California where Physician Assistants law was passed because of a physician shortage to allow PA’s diagnose. This is better health care?
The buried lead, it seems, is that Otter’s “victory” was delivered by the democrats.
Interesting.
Yes the democratic victory in the Republican state. Proves money will buy anything, right Butch. Butch why don’t you discuss the $21 million coming your way???
Let’s hope the arrogant politicians see the wrath of the Americans that pay their salaries and enable all those special deals.
Gee, Daddy Otter said to his bath-shy child, you LIKE being clean don’t you?
All this did today was take us into Obamacare a health plan the people did not want by a 63% margin. Considering the GOP is still fighting against Obamacare it is interesting to me a conservative state such as Idaho is rushing in a health exchange that without question is becoming evident that it is one programs ever brought on the American people. You can not keep your doctor, you can not keep your insurance guranteed. It is all lies and shame on Idaho legislators like Butch. I think Butch will be long remembered as those that voted for the Obamacare health exchange.
Lets hope Obamacare is eventually repealed and these deaf and dumb legislators are out of office soon. The people will be back.
I meant to say Nobamacare is becoming increasingly clear that it is one of the worst programs every passed
How does a conservative state pass a radical left medical plan?? They care about the people so much?? I am wondering.
In fact, don’t quit fighting all this un American Nobamacare and his policies. Eventually American values will win here in the United States. We won’t be lied to and we won’t become a European democracy because they don’t work. We have proved our system works and that is the system the people want, not some extreme left socialists and non Christians in our White House. Don’t quit fighting.
Raul Labrador needs to challenge Otter as Otter endorses ObamaCare by starting a state exchange will enable ObamaCare to last a few more years before its inevitable collapse. Clearly we need a new Governor!
Our milk toast republicans do it again
I wish our republicans had guts and conviction like those of Wyoming and Oklahoma
I am with you on Butch
He was good as a representative but this tacit endorsement of ObamaCare is unacceptable. I am also vote to throw out my Senator Tippets.
Butch sold out. I hope all remember.