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There is a difference between saying “… more than half of Medicaid expansion recipients nationwide don’t work” and “… many adults in the so-called Medicaid gap do, in fact, work.” These two presentations are found in an Idaho Statesman article by Melissa Davlin (Sept. 6, 2018). They illustrate the divisions found in so much civil, and uncivil discourse today. An attempt to present one side of any issue, and in this case Idaho’s Proposition 2, on this year’s ballot, is anticipated to meet the predictable derisive innuendo spewed out by too many opponents. several insights, from one side of the issue are as follows:

Idaho Freedom Foundation, Obamacare’s Medicaid expansion increases cost, Aug. 10, 2018; In Arizona “… since Medicaid expansion occurred: emergency room visits by Medicaid patients have nearly doubled, and total costs for Medicaid patients have nearly tripled.” Rural hospitals have suffered the most.

Idaho Freedom Foundation, idahofreedom.org, Aug. 3, 2018; More than one-half of Medicaid expansion enrolls don’t work. With no work requirement or time limit … a new welfare trap for able-bodied adults” is created. Proposition 2 has no work requirements.

Idaho Freedom Foundation, July 27, 2018; “The growing Medicaid program is already hurting schools and other programs.” Medicaid equals $2.4 billion, K-12 equals $2.1 billion; 285,00 students, 300,000-plus on Medicaid. The Fairness Project has spent 10 times more than Reclaim Idaho to get Proposition 2 passed.

Look it up and think for yourself.

JEREMY CONLIN

Cocolalla