Legislative Wrap Up (copy)

Sen. Melissa Wintrow addresses members of the media during a press conference at the Idaho State Capitol in April 2025.

 Brian Myrick/Idaho Press

A Democrat on Idaho’s state budget-writing committee is hoping to get public input as members weigh potential cuts to the state’s Medicaid program.

The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee, known as JFAC, unlike other legislative committees, does not hold public hearings where people can testify on bills.

Senate Minority Leader Melissa Wintrow, D-Boise, asked Friday about how committee members should go about getting input from the Idahoans who may be affected by budget decisions and potential cuts to Medicaid.

“I’m really interested in how we as a committee can do our absolute best to hear from the public about impacts in particular this budget, because of the rate decreases we’ve already seen,” Wintrow said. “So as we make those decisions going forward, we’re not just talking about big numbers and balancing black and white on pages. How do we really get at what I foresee are the devastating impacts when we do these discussions?”

Gov. Brad Little in his budget proposal called for $22 million in cuts to Medicaid, offering options for service cuts, such as dental coverage and home-and-community-based care for people with disabilities, the Idaho Capital Sun reported. Little also included in his budget about $23 million in reductions to Medicaid through an extension of the 4 percent doctor reimbursement cuts first approved in August in response to the projected state budget shortfall.

JFAC Co-Chair Josh Tanner, R-Eagle, said that the budget committee will hear from the chairs of the House and Senate Health and Welfare committees, which hold public hearings on bills. Budget bills are not brought through those committees.

Rep. Elaine Price, R-Coeur d’Alene, recommended “reaching out to your constituents, reading those emails. Responding to those emails will get you that picture as well.”

“That’s part of our job as a Legislature, we’re supposed to be representing our constituents,” Price said, “and if we’re not reaching out to them and reading their emails, then we’re not getting that information.”

A budget hearing in JFAC for the Division of Medicaid is scheduled for Jan. 22, and the budget will be set later in the session.

Who are the members of JFAC and the members of Health and Welfare? How do I contact them?

The Idaho Senate members of JFAC and their contact information are as follows:

The members of the Idaho House of Representatives on JFAC are:

The co-chairs of the Health and Welfare committees are:

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the best

To save money, please cut JFAC member’s salary and drop their medical benefits coverage first. And do the same to Gov. Brad Little as well. If it’s not enough, then treat the same way all 35 State Senators and all 70 State Representatives.

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