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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Eye On Boise

Freedom Foundation now up to half a dozen anti-incumbent billboards around the state

The Idaho Freedom Foundation now has six billboards around the state attacking lawmakers who voted in favor of setting up a state-based health insurance exchange, rather than allowing the federal government to operate an exchange for Idaho. They’ve also updated the look of the first ones they posted, opting for a bright-red color scheme and photos of the legislators they’re excoriating. “We’ve improved the look, while putting them up in more places,” the foundation reported on its website. Foundation head Wayne Hoffman said there are now two signs in Idaho Falls, and one each in Rexburg, Burley, Mountain Home and Coeur d’Alene.

“They didn’t need to implement OBAMACARE,” the billboards say above the lawmakers’ names and photos, along with a statement by their photos that each one of them “voted FOR IT.” Across the bottom, the billboards say, “Repeal the State Insurance Exchange in 2014!” One pictures and targets Gov. Butch Otter, saying, “Your Governor and some state legislators implemented OBAMACARE.”

Four Kootenai County lawmakers are pictured on the billboard near Coeur d’Alene, which is along I-90 at Pleasant View in Post Falls, all Republicans: Reps. Luke Malek, Frank Henderson, Ed Morse and John Goedde. They don’t seem too upset at having their photos on billboards in their home turf. “I think the people in my district understand the issue,” Malek said. Morse said, “I represent the interests of the citizens in my district, not Wayne Hoffman.”



Betsy Z. Russell
Betsy Z. Russell joined The Spokesman-Review in 1991. She currently is a reporter in the Boise Bureau covering Idaho state government and politics, and other news from Idaho's state capital.

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