NEWS/ROTUNDA NEWS GEOR GE PR ENTIC E
Rallies across Idaho on Feb. 19, including the steps of the Statehouse, pleaded for no cuts to Medicaid.
But indeed she had cried a few times while telling Chris’ story. “Really?” she asked. “I guess I don’t notice anymore.” Chris said he now has reason for cautious optimism. He’s a resident of the Antelope Creek assisted living center in the unlikely setting of Mackay. The snowbound hamlet is part of Chris’ mental health solution. He has structure, friends and an occasional job as a cook at the senior center. Most importantly, Chris receives PSR services from a man he calls “one of my best friends.” “Chris is doing rather well now,” said Travis Bell, Chris’ counselor. “Unfortunately we had to cut down Chris’ PSR from nine hours to five because of the last round of budget cuts. And now, we’re at risk of losing them all.” Chris takes a battery of daily medications to keep his psychoses in check. His short-term goals include getting to know himself better and strengthening his coping skills. His long-term goals are more like dreams. “I dream of being normal,” said Chris. “I dream of being married and being a father. I’d love to be a mentor to someone.” Chris had another letter that he asked BW to transcribe, this one to his mother, father, sister and brother in Boise. Mackay, Idaho Feb. 18, 2011 To my family: I miss you. I can’t wait to see you. I love you very much. Tell everyone hi for me. Have faith that Medicaid won’t be cut. Chris paused again, took a deep breath and asked a number of rapid-fire questions. “Why are they going to cut Medicaid?” “They can’t really do that, can they?” “Don’t they know how much that will hurt people?” “Does that mean I can’t come here anymore?” For now, Idaho’s Health and Welfare Medicaid Division doesn’t want to answer Chris’ “hypothetical” questions. WWW. B OISEWEEKLY.C O M
NUMBERS CURRENTLY BEING CONSIDERED BY JOINT FINANCEAPPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE 4.8 PERCENT
6.9 PERCENT
Current growth rate for Fiscal Year 2011. Official state economic forecast of growth rate for Fiscal Year 2012.
3.0 PERCENT
JFAC’s approved growth rate for Fiscal Year 2012.
3 percent growth rate would require nearly $92 million in cuts to Idaho agencies
$35 million
$80.5 million
$115.5 million
Possible cuts in state funding to Medicaid. Approximate loss of matching federal funds to Medicaid. Approximate total loss in Medicaid funding to Idaho.
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND WELFARE PROPOSALS $25.2 MILLION CUT WOULD INCLUDE: UÊÊ >Ì Ê vÊÃiÀÛ ViÃÊv ÀÊ>`Õ ÌÃÊ with developmental disabilities. UÊÊ >Ì Ê vÊ*-,ÊÃiÀÛ ViÃÊ for adults with mental illness. UÊÊ,i`ÕVÌ Ê vÊ`i Ì> ÊÃiÀÛ ViÃÊ for adults. UÊÊ,iµÕ Ài i ÌÊ vÊV «>Þ i ÌÃÊ for some services.
$20.7 MILLION CUT WOULD INCLUDE: UÊÊ£äÊ«iÀVi ÌÊÀi`ÕVÌ Ê vÊ developmental disabilities. UÊÊ£äÊ«iÀVi ÌÊÀi`ÕVÌ Ê vÊ personal care services. UÊÊ ÃÌ>L Ã Ê iÜÊV «>Þ i ÌÃÊ> `Ê increase assessments imposed on providers.
BORN IN CHAINS In one of the oddest alliances of the 2011 legislative session, the Idaho Sheriffs’ Association, American Civil Liberties Union and Right to Life of Idaho stood together to support a bill prohibiting the use of restraints on pregnant female prisoners during labor. In 2009 an Arkansas female inmate, restrained at the ankles, suffered permanent hip injuries and successfully sued the state. In 2010 a non-violent offender in Washington successfully sued and won a $125,000 judgment. In both cases, the inmates said their constitutional rights were violated because restraints during labor were considered cruel and unusual punishment. Hannah Brass, counsel for the ACLU of Idaho, said her organization has received several complaints from female prisoners in Idaho who refused to be identified. “Many women are ashamed,” said Brass. “They don’t want their families to know, and they certainly don’t want their children to know that they were born in chains.” Brass said her organization worked closely with the Sheriffs’ Association to craft the new legislation. Idaho’s Department of Correction already has similar procedures but Idaho’s 44 counties operate with their own policies. “If this becomes law, it would be taught to every new candidate coming through the new Idaho sheriffs school,” said Michael Kane, legal adviser to the Sheriffs’ Association. Jason Herring, president of Right to Life of Idaho, usually finds himself at odds with the ACLU but not on this issue. “Those in prison are often forgot by the outside world,” Herring told the House Judiciary, Rules and Administration Committee. The committee of 12 Republicans and three Democrats passed the measure unanimously and forwarded the bill to the full House with a do-pass recommendation. 8
POSSIBLE EXPANSION OF RIGHT-TO-FARM When Idaho passed its Right-to-Farm statute, the law was crafted to protect family farms from nuisance lawsuits. But for the better part of the past quarter century, family farms in Idaho have given way to conglomerates, and dairy farms in particular have yielded to confined animal feeding operations, or CAFOs. Between 1991 and 2007, the number of Idaho dairies dropped from 1,952 to 648, yet the amount of milk produced in Idaho skyrocketed from 3 billion pounds up to 11 billion pounds. In an attempt to protect CAFOs in the same way the law protects family farms, Idaho House Speaker Lawerence Denney was expected to introduce a bill this week that broadens the definitions of the Rightto-Farm Act and putting a further burden on any individual or group challenging a “recognized or permitted” agricultural facility. Denney’s measure would require any opponent who loses the challenge to pay all legal fees. —George Prentice
BOISEweekly | FEBRUARY 23 – MARCH 1, 2011 | 9