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Paulette Jordan on Health Care |
Jordan: A lot of businesses aren't always able to afford health insurance. I'd like to see local businesses to have the support to offer health care, whether that's through Medicaid expansion in the state. It would be a huge cost savings. Most businesses want expanded Medicaid. It's just the Republican Party who has said expanding Medicaid would cost more, and people are drinking the Kool Aid.
The issue: Idaho has come under national scrutiny as one of just two states with an exemption that protects parents from criminal or civil liability if, due to their religious beliefs, they do not seek medical care for their child and the child dies. The other state is Virginia. According to groups working to change the law, 183 children in Idaho have died under this exemption since it was enacted in the 1970s.
Jordan: "If autonomous adults choose to forgo lifesaving medical treatment for religious reasons, they should be allowed to make that very personal decision. They should not, however, be able to make such a decision for their children. I support the repeal of Idaho's 'faith healing' exemption because, above all else, our laws should protect the lives of the youngest and most vulnerable people in our state."