I am the Republican challenger to our Democratic state senator in the 5th Legislative District, Dan Schmidt. Consider what Schmidt has accomplished for our district in his six years in office. In Boise, Democratic votes count for nothing, as the Republican leadership typically requires a majority of the majority to get things passed. We have not had a state senator in Boise who has a vote that counts the past six years.
This has shown in his inability to champion education, which I am putting first in my campaign. In just six years, we have seen tuition at the University of Idaho go from just over $5,000 to over $7,000 for our full-time Idaho students. Enrollment is hurting our economy here in Moscow and this district.
We have over 75,000 people left in the Medicaid gap. While it is fine to introduce bills that seek to expand it, and give up your own state health insurance getting you a little bit of news, what is it really worth if you cannot deliver? Medicaid needs to be expanded in our state, enabling all counties to cut their property taxes because of no longer having to pay for indigent health care.
Where Schmidt has failed, I will succeed. I will fight to make sure that education is championed in our district, that tuition prices come down, and that enrollment goes up at our flagship university. I will fight to make sure that health care is available to all Idaho citizens, and that no one any longer continues to die because of their lack of access to care.
Both Republicans and Democrats ought to join with me in this important election this November and send someone to Boise who will champion the policies that we want here.
John Freeland
Moscow
