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John Rusche

D

Won the General, 2012 Idaho State House District 6B

Commission Member, Leadership in Nuclear Engineering (LINE) 2.0 Commission (? - Present)

Quick Facts
Personal Details

Caucuses/Former Committees

Appointed Commission Member, Health Quality Planning Commission, present

Former Member, Education Committee, Idaho State House of Representatives

Former Member, Health and Welfare, Idaho State House of Representatives

Co-chairman, Joint Legislative Oversight Committee, 2014-16

Former Member, Judiciary, Rules and Administration

Former Member, Legislative Oversight Committee, Idaho State House of Representatives

Former Member, Millenium Fund Committee, Idaho State House of Representatives

Former Member, Ways and Means, Idaho State House of Representatives

Chair, Minority Caucus, Idaho State House of Representative, 2007

Chair, Lewiston City Daycare Task Force, 1985

Education

  • MD, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, 1977
  • BS, Chemical Engineering, University of Notre Dame, 1973

Professional Experience

  • MD, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, 1977
  • BS, Chemical Engineering, University of Notre Dame, 1973
  • Senior Vice President, Regence BlueCross BlueShield, 1995-2006
  • Chief Medical Officer, Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Utah, 1995-2006
  • Senior Vice President, Regence BlueShield of Idaho, 1995-2006
  • Chief Medical Officer, Regence BlueShield of Idaho, 1995-2006
  • Medical Director, Regence Blue Shield of Medicine, 1995-1999
  • Physician, Valley Medical Center, 1980-1995
  • General Pediatrician, Valley Medical Center, 1980-1995
  • Instructor, Department of Pediatrics, Health Sciences Center, University of Arizona, 1977-1980

Political Experience

  • MD, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, 1977
  • BS, Chemical Engineering, University of Notre Dame, 1973
  • Senior Vice President, Regence BlueCross BlueShield, 1995-2006
  • Chief Medical Officer, Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Utah, 1995-2006
  • Senior Vice President, Regence BlueShield of Idaho, 1995-2006
  • Chief Medical Officer, Regence BlueShield of Idaho, 1995-2006
  • Medical Director, Regence Blue Shield of Medicine, 1995-1999
  • Physician, Valley Medical Center, 1980-1995
  • General Pediatrician, Valley Medical Center, 1980-1995
  • Instructor, Department of Pediatrics, Health Sciences Center, University of Arizona, 1977-1980
  • Former Member, Environment, Energy, and Technology, Idaho State House of Representatives, present
  • Commission Member, Leadership in Nuclear Engineering (LINE) 2.0 Commission, present
  • Former Appointee, Court Appointed Child Advocates
  • Candidate, Idaho House of Representatives, District 6B, 2018
  • Representative, Idaho House of Representatives, 2004-2016
  • Minority Leader, Idaho House of Representatives, 2008-2016
  • Representative, Idaho State House of Representatives, 2004-2016
  • Minority Leader, Idaho State House of Representatives, 2010-2016
  • Minority Caucus Chairman, Idaho House of Representatives, 2007-2008

Former Committees/Caucuses

Appointed Commission Member, Health Quality Planning Commission, present

Former Member, Education Committee, Idaho State House of Representatives

Former Member, Health and Welfare, Idaho State House of Representatives

Co-chairman, Joint Legislative Oversight Committee, 2014-16

Former Member, Judiciary, Rules and Administration

Former Member, Legislative Oversight Committee, Idaho State House of Representatives

Former Member, Millenium Fund Committee, Idaho State House of Representatives

Former Member, Ways and Means, Idaho State House of Representatives

Chair, Minority Caucus, Idaho State House of Representative, 2007

Chair, Lewiston City Daycare Task Force, 1985

Religious, Civic, and other Memberships

  • MD, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, 1977
  • BS, Chemical Engineering, University of Notre Dame, 1973
  • Senior Vice President, Regence BlueCross BlueShield, 1995-2006
  • Chief Medical Officer, Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Utah, 1995-2006
  • Senior Vice President, Regence BlueShield of Idaho, 1995-2006
  • Chief Medical Officer, Regence BlueShield of Idaho, 1995-2006
  • Medical Director, Regence Blue Shield of Medicine, 1995-1999
  • Physician, Valley Medical Center, 1980-1995
  • General Pediatrician, Valley Medical Center, 1980-1995
  • Instructor, Department of Pediatrics, Health Sciences Center, University of Arizona, 1977-1980
  • Former Member, Environment, Energy, and Technology, Idaho State House of Representatives, present
  • Commission Member, Leadership in Nuclear Engineering (LINE) 2.0 Commission, present
  • Former Appointee, Court Appointed Child Advocates
  • Candidate, Idaho House of Representatives, District 6B, 2018
  • Representative, Idaho House of Representatives, 2004-2016
  • Minority Leader, Idaho House of Representatives, 2008-2016
  • Representative, Idaho State House of Representatives, 2004-2016
  • Minority Leader, Idaho State House of Representatives, 2010-2016
  • Minority Caucus Chairman, Idaho House of Representatives, 2007-2008
  • Board Member, Indigent Health Care (CAT) Board of Directors, present
  • Physician Member, Medical Care Advisory Committee for Medicaid, present
  • Committee Member, Milbank Memorial Fund–Reforming States Group Steering Committee, present
  • Board Member, Millennium Fund Board, present
  • Board Member, State Hospital North Advisory Board of Directors, present
  • Board Member, YourHealthIdaho (Health Insurance Exchange) Board of Directors, present
  • Member, American Council of Physician Executives
  • Board Member, Idaho Nonprofit Center, 2015-16
  • Board Member, 2nd Judicial District CASA, 1990-2016
  • Board Member, Tristate Memorial Hospital Foundation, 1998-2006
  • Campaign Chair, Twin County United Way, 2001
  • Chief of Staff, Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center, 1993
  • Secretary-Treasurer, Idaho Pediatrics Society, 1986-1992
  • Treasurer, Idaho Pediatrics Society, 1986-1992
  • Board Member, Northwest Children's Home, 1986-1992
  • Board Member, Idaho Medical Association, 1984-1988
  • Secretary, American Academy of Pediatrics, Idaho Chapter, 1983-1987
  • Board Member, Lewis-Clark State College Artist Series, 1983-1986

Other Info

— Awards:

  • Child Advocate award, American Academy of Pediatrics, Idaho Chapter 1991, 2008
  • NASW Legislative Award, 2013
  • Qualis Legislative award for Health, 2009
  • Idaho Public Health Departments Legislative Award, 2013

In 1991 he was awarded the Idaho Pediatric Society "Shaker and Mover" award

  • In 2012 he received the Qualis Health Quality award
  • the Idaho Academy of Pediatrics child advocacy award in 2014
  • In 2015 he was named public official of the year by the Idaho Association of Social Work
  • named an "AG All Star" for 2016 by the Food Producers of Idaho
  • Policy Positions

    Idaho State Legislative Election 2018 Political Courage Test

    Abortion & Reproductive

    1. Do you generally support pro-choice or pro-life legislation?
    - No Answer

    2. Should abortion be legal when the pregnancy resulted from incest or rape?
    - Yes

    3. Do you support the prohibition of public funds for organizations that perform abortions?
    - No Answer

    4. Other or expanded principles
    - Abortion is a valid medical/surgical procedure, but is a poor choice for family planning. Comprehensive contraceptive choices and health access are better

    Budget, Spending, & Tax

    Budget Stabilization:

    Indicate which proposals you support (if any) for balancing Idaho's budget.

    1. Reducing state employee salaries AND/OR pensions?
    - No

    2. Instituting mandatory furloughs AND/OR layoffs for state employees?
    - No

    3. Reducing benefits for Medicaid recipients?
    - No

    4. An income tax increase on any tax bracket?
    - Yes

    5. Other or expanded principles
    - if necessary for balancing the budget, consider repealing part of the $250 Million tax cut from the 2018 session

    Campaign Finance & Government Reform

    1. Do you support any limits on campaign contributions to state candidates?
    - Yes

    2. Do you support the regulation of indirect campaign contributions from corporations and unions?
    - Yes

    3. Do you support the use of an independent AND/OR bipartisan commission for redistricting?
    - Yes

    4. Do you support requiring a government-issued photo identification in order to vote at the polls?
    - No Answer

    5. Other or expanded principles
    - No Answer

    Crime & Public Safety

    1. Do you support capital punishment for certain crimes?
    - No

    2. Do you support the legalization of marijuana for recreational purposes?
    - No

    3. Should a minor accused of a violent crime be prosecuted as an adult?
    - No

    4. Do you support the enforcement of federal immigration laws by state and local police?
    - No Answer

    5. Do you support the legalization of Cannabidiol Oil (CBD) for medical purposes?
    - Yes

    6. Do you support prohibiting the use of handheld electronic devices while operating a motor vehicle?
    - Yes

    7. Other or expanded principles
    - Which immigration laws? And what do the local police and sheriffs want? CBD oil should be legalized for valid (proven) conditions

    Economic

    1. Do you support state government spending as a means of promoting economic growth?
    - No

    2. Do you support lowering state taxes as a means of promoting economic growth?
    - No

    3. Do you support reducing state government regulations on the private sector?
    - No Answer

    4. Do you support expanding access to unemployment benefits?
    - No

    5. Do you support requiring welfare applicants to pass a drug test in order to receive benefits?
    - No

    6. Do you support an increase of the minimum wage of Idaho?
    - Yes

    7. Other or expanded principles
    - State spending is not enough to promote growth. Certain projects may (ie, telecom, transportation, higher ed) Which regulations? I want clean water and air, but useless ones should be removed

    Education

    1. Do you support adopting federal education standards in Idaho?
    - No Answer

    2. Do you support state funding for charter schools?
    - No Answer

    3. Should immigrants unlawfully present in the United States who graduate from Idaho high schools be eligible for in-state tuition at public universities?
    - Yes

    4. Should elementary students' reading test scores influence teachers' pay raises?
    - No

    5. Other or expanded principles
    - Which Federal standards? State charter school funding is a reality. I oppose vouchers for private and religious schools

    Environment & Energy

    1. Do you support state funding for the development of renewable energy (e.g. solar, wind, thermal)?
    - Yes

    2. Do you support state government regulations of greenhouse gas emissions?
    - No Answer

    3. Do you support increasing state funding for clean drinking water initiatives?
    - Yes

    4. Other or expanded principles
    - Greenhouse gases are really a federal issue There are a number of wast water and drinking water treatment plants long past their expected life. Many are in small communities unable to support bonds for rebuilding. But it is an issue for all of us

    Gun

    1. Do you generally support gun-control legislation?
    - No Answer

    2. Should background checks be required on gun sales between private citizens at gun shows?
    - Yes

    3. Should teachers be allowed to bring guns into the classroom?
    - No

    4. Should a license be required for gun ownership?
    - No

    5. Other or expanded principles
    - which legislation? I think that all sales (except in family) should have a background check.

    Health

    1. Should the state government increase funding for treatment facilities to combat opioid abuse?
    - Yes

    2. Do you support Medicaid expansion through Idaho's health care programs?
    - Yes

    3. Do you support requiring individuals to purchase health care insurance?
    - Yes

    4. Do you support legislation that grants citizens the right to choose to die through euthanasia?
    - No

    5. Do you support eliminating religious exemptions for vaccinations?
    - No Answer

    6. Other or expanded principles
    - our exemption policy is parental preference. I think the school should send home any unvaccinnated child if there is illness in the community or if there is an immune suppressed child in the school.

    Social

    1. Do you support the inclusion of sexual orientation in Idaho's anti-discrimination laws?
    - Yes

    2. Do you support the inclusion of gender identity in Idaho's anti-discrimination laws?
    - Yes

    3. Do you support greater efforts by Idaho state government in closing the pay gap between men and women?
    - Yes

    4. Other or expanded principles
    - No Answer

    Legislative Priorities

    In the following area, please explain in a total of 100 words or less, your top two or three priorities if elected. If they require additional funding for implementation, please explain how you would obtain this funding.
    - Better education funding--4 day school weeks and pervasive override levies are bad. And college is getting out of the range of middle class families.health care cost and accessinvesting in the infrastructure for long term economic success, not just tax cuts