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Excited to be working for Idahoans |
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January 13, 2018 |
By Brad Little
Idaho Lieutenant Governor
The second session of the 64th Idaho State
Legislature has convened, with familiar faces
returning as well as a few new ones. I’m excited
to be back and working on behalf of the citizens
of Idaho.
On Monday, the governor delivered his State of
the State address, focusing on many priorities
for our state, including K-12 and higher
education, health care, mental health and
delivering additional tax relief for hardworking
Idahoans.
There is much to be optimistic about. Idaho is
the fastest growing state in the nation. We have
the highest number of employed Idahoans in our
history and incomes continue to rise. But we
cannot rest on these accomplishments. Sustaining
this growth requires solutions on many different
fronts.
Idaho is in year five of our state’s plan for
education and we have built great momentum on
education these past four years. But there is
still work to do.
We have wonderful teachers and want to keep them
here. This year, we will continue investing in
career counselors and improving our efforts on
literacy, ensuring our third graders are reading
by the time they start the fourth grade.
On health care, Congress failed to repeal and
replace Obamacare. We Idahoans have had enough.
We cannot wait. We must pursue an Idaho solution
that is actually affordable for families and
small businesses, and Governor Otter outlined
efforts to do just that.
Despite these challenges, one thing we know for
sure about Idaho’s state government, as Governor
Otter recently said ... "Our books are balanced.
Our fiscal obligations are being met. Our credit
is strong. We are planning wisely, working
collaboratively and investing sustainably. Our
national politics often are dysfunctional, but
in Idaho our government processes are sound and
our policies and priorities reflect the will of
the people we serve."
Affordable health care is an important component
of a strong, growing economy.
I focus much of my time as lieutenant governor
on economic development across Idaho. Obamacare
is a failed policy experiment that, despite the
promises of its supporters, did not provide
quality, affordable health care for many
Idahoans.
Five years ago, Idaho had some of the most
affordable health care in the nation. We must
get back to that position and the solution to
our health care must be built right here in
Idaho. The first step in crafting an Idaho
solution began with the signing of this
executive order, which will roll back Obamacare
regulations on health care plans and allow
individuals and families purchase plans that are
30- to 50-percent less than what they pay now.
That is a big savings that will be able to go
back into the pocket books of Idahoans. With
this executive order, Idaho is leading the
nation in rolling back Obamacare and pursuing
its own state-based solution. |
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