\nIdaho receives money from the Tobacco Settlement Fund to the tune of 10 million dollars a year. Lots of states use this money in different ways. Some dump it into their General Fund and build roads or fund schools. Idaho has decided that this money should be used for Substance Abuse and tobacco use prevention. Twenty percent of this money is placed in an endowment fund and the earnings are spent. The fund is growing. This committee decides how the earnings are appropriated. Last year I sat in on three meetings where we heard proposals for these expenditures, then voted on the appropriation. In the end the Joint Finance and Appropriations Committee (JFAC) disregarded the committee\u2019s recommendations and made its own decision about where the money should go.
\nI learned a bit with this work. As I listened to testimony from different folks about how they would use the money we could send their way, I reflected on my time as a doctor talking to people about quitting smoking or getting off drugs. Listening, studying, and understanding the problem is the key. There is no substitute. I voted for programs where people talk with people. You will see billboards by the highways about meth.\u00a0They are the products of the Meth Project. They got $500,000 form the Millennium fund, over my negative vote. They claim great returns on investment. \u00a0I have data that speaks otherwise. \u00a0A member of our committee sits on the Board for the Meth Project as does the governor\u2019s wife. I think it\u2019s about people talking with people. So I voted my conscience.<\/p>\n
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Energy Environment and Technology Interim Committee<\/span><\/p>\n Health Care Task Force<\/span> The Task Force was started 10 or so years ago to study health insurance and keep it affordable for Idahoans. But right now we are in a fight over whether the state of Idaho accepts federal money to establish insurance exchanges. Most of our two meetings have been focused on this issue. Insurance exchanges are designed to expedite market forces on the cost of insurance. I think it\u2019s an easy yes, but our governor has incited the conservatives of the majority party against anything federal. So they are working out their conflicts. Catastrophic Fund Board<\/span> (Also known as the CAT Board, but we don’t deal with this:) This is just a small part of the larger picture. Idaho is required by statue to pay for medical costs for people who are considered medically indigent, that is, cannot pay their medical bills. The counties are the ones required to pay. About 12 years ago a law was passed that said if the bill to the county was greater than $10,000 the state would develop a reinsurance pool (Catastrophic Fund, or \u201cCAT Fund\u201d) for the balance over that amount. The bar has since been raised to $11,000. This means that if a person in Latah County breaks their leg and doesn\u2019t have insurance, can\u2019t qualify for Medicaid, and their medical bills are more than their assets (minus their home and one vehicle), then the hospital and doctor bills go to the county. The county pays no more than $11,000; any amount beyond that is passed on to the state. In 2010 the state paid approximately $35 million into this program from the General Fund. My best estimate is that the counties paid about $40 million. That means the taxpayers of the state of Idaho are insuring the uninsured from both property taxes and general fund revenues about $75 million dollars per year. Change in Employment Compensation Committee<\/span> I will continue to write about each of these issues and more in the coming weeks. I will also continue to be a part time legislator, working as a Family Physician, fixing my vehicles and homes, and gardening. I always meet with constituents and try to do my best at this, a part time job.<\/strong><\/p>\n Comments are welcome but will not be posted.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Idaho wants citizen (read \u201cpart time\u201d) legislators. We are paid part time and expected to live our lives in our districts when not in session. \u00a0I respect that. We have legislative session from the first Monday of the first full … Continue reading ![\"\"](\"https:\/\/danschmidtforsenate.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/10\/large_EO199.jpg\" "\\"Hell's")
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\nWe are currently tasked with updating and rewriting the Energy Plan for the state of Idaho. It was last written in 2006 and was honestly very progressive. Can you think of as more pivotal point than energy? I have been doing my homework. We have had two meetings this summer and there will be at least two more.<\/p>\n
\nI argued for this position and got it. I believe we need to change how our state delivers health care.<\/p>\n
\nWe have had two meetings, but I learn more from the research. The legislative fight this coming session may be over exchanges, but the victory will come when we can draw the discussion into the larger picture.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n
\nThis Board comprises county commissioners, the director of the Department of Health and Welfare, two Representatives (one from each party), and two Senators (one from each party). Last session the Republican Senator spoke to promote a bill the CAT Fund had proposed. I rose to support it. He came up to me afterward to suggest I consider a nomination to the Board. I accepted and was appointed. I believe this is a leverage point.<\/p>\n
\nThis committee is tasked with recommending to the legislature whether to accept, modify or reject the governor\u2019s recommendation for changing the state employee compensation. We have not met, but I expect we will right before the session.<\/p>\n