House passes Medicaid Cuts

The Idaho House has voted 56-14 to cut 34 million  dollars from state funding for Medicaid in 2012.  The bill cuts a total of $108 million from the program, due to lost federal matching funds.  Rep. Janice McGeachin a republic says the cuts will help preserve money for public education programs that are also going under the budget knife amid lackluster tax revenues and an anemic economy.  McGeachin highlighted how public input was sought to improve the bill and make changes. House Minority Leader John Rusche, a Lewiston doctor, argued the bill is "the worst tunnel vision budgeting." He says ignoring the needs of Medicaid recipients won't make them vanish. It now goes to the Senate.