Idaho State Legislature Democratic Leadership Offices June 22, 2017 U.S. Senator Jim Risch 350 N 9th St STE 302 Boise, ID 83702 Dear Senator Risch, We write to you jointly to express our concern about the path being taken to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act. The ACA has allowed thousands of Idahoans to access health insurance. It has helped to reduce the amount of money spent by counties and the state for catastrophic care. However, 78,000 Idahoans remain in the coverage gap. Without coverage they go without preventive care and when they do access health care it is through emergency rooms. This is the most expensive and least effective way of providing basic care that allows folks to remain healthy, work and contribute to their communities. Estimates show that repeal of the ACA will put another 130,000 Idahoans at risk for losing health coverage. But we have no way of knowing, because the current proposal is being negotiated behind closed doors, with no public hearings or opportunity for amendments. The Boise State Public Policy Survey shows health care second only to education (and within the margin of error) as the top priority for Idahoans. We implore you to not support any effort to make changes to the ACA without public process. The idea that a bill impacting one sixth of the nation's economy and millions of lives would be passed with absolutely no public input is unacceptable. When the ACA was passed it was done publicly and with amendments. Any changes should be done in the same manner. Please support a public process for addressing the health care needs of your fellow Idahoans and the nation. Respectfully, Senator Michelle Stennett Representative Mat Erpelding Senate Minority Leader House Minority Leader Senator Cherie Buckner-Webb Representative Ilana Rubel Senate Assistant Minority Leader House Assistant Minority Leader Senator Maryanne Jordan Representative Elaine Smith Senate Minority Caucus Chair House Minority Caucus Chair .