Rep. Janet Trujillo, R-Idaho Falls, and Sen. Dan Schmidt, D-Moscow, have introduced legislation to disqualify from the state’s medical indigency/catastrophic care program anyone who earns over 138 percent of the federal poverty level. The reason: They now qualify to buy subsidized health insurance through Idaho’s insurance exchange. “I think people should get insurance,” said Schmidt, a physician. Trujillo told Lewiston Tribune reporter Bill Spence, “We're trying to get people to realize they have a certain level of personal responsibility.”

If it becomes law, HB 1101 would save the state $11 million next year and would save counties $5 million. You can read Spence’s full report here at his “Political Theater” blog.