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Do you know anyone who makes more than $6,500, but less than $17,000 a year? These are the people referred to as the “working poor” who will benefit if Prop 2 Medicaid expansion passes. It will allow these folks to get regular preventive healthcare, instead of ignoring health issues that eventually could necessitate an emergency room visit.

Federal income taxes that Idahoans pay into Medicaid are sent to Washington, D.C., with nothing returning back into our state to assist people in this income gap. It’s much like going to a store, paying for something, then walking out without it. Instead, the feds send our money to other states.

Two years ago, Montana accepted Medicaid expansion and according to Montana’s Department of Public Health, their state has saved more than $30 million. The reason being, Montana’s 10 percent cost is a lot less than what they were paying for their indigent care program. Accepting Medicaid expansion has proven to be the fiscally responsible thing to do.

Here in our state, its estimated that 65,000 people would be helped. Certainly here in Bonner County, we have neighbors working jobs that fit this income gap. A major illness would devastate them. Time is now, to do for them as you would hope they’d do for you, if roles were reversed.

Please vote “yes on Prop 2” and elect Jim Woodward to the Idaho Senate and Ellen Weissman and Steve Howlett as our state representatives to support Medicaid expansion in Boise. It’s the people’s initiative!

REBECCA HOLLAND

Sandpoint