McGeachin talks plans going forward as Idaho’s new Lt. Governor
Published at
IDAHO FALLS — Idaho’s first female Lt. Governor-elect says she’s ready to “hit the ground running” come Jan. 1.
Former Republican Idaho District 32A legislator Janice McGeachin recently sat down with EastIdahoNews.com to talk about her win on Nov. 7, and to discuss her plans going forward.
“I really look forward to being between the legislative branch of government and the executive branch of government — being a person that can facilitate a real strong, solid line of communication between the two bodies,” McGeachin said.
McGeachin beat her Democratic challenger Kristen Collum in the midterm election with 60 percent of the vote.
“It’s a culmination of almost two years of hardwork, crisscrossing all across Idaho talking to hardworking, honest Idahoans and listening to what their concerns are, garnering support from all across Idaho,” she said.
Idaho voted resoundingly to pass Medicaid expansion. Now it will be up to the legislature to work out how to implement it. McGeachin said she hopes to help in the process by offering advise based on her 10 years of experience as an Idaho legislator working with the Medicaid program.
“It is going to be a challenge because there was no funding mechanism that was attached to the initiative,” she explained. “I don’t know how the legislator’s going to decide whether they’re going to cut back on existing programs in order to implement it. Or if they’re going to discuss raising a tax to pay for it because there will be a cost to the state.”
McGeachin said she hopes to support Governor-elect Brad Little with his educational goals for Idaho by focusing on more technical programs for high school graduates.
“I’d like to work with the department of education and Gov. Little and with my friends in the legislature to do what we need to to do to help provide that link between our educational institutions and our business community,” McGeachin explained.
McGeachin is an Idaho Falls native. She owns the Celt Pub & Grill with her husband Jim.
Watch the full interview above.