Megan C. Blanksma

Blanksma’s bill, which would place the maternal review committee in the Idaho Board of Medicine, would mean Idaho’s maternal mortality review committee wouldn’t rely on federal funds, like it did before, Blanksma told the committee. Banskma questioned providing blanket immunity for people involved in investigations, and said confidentiality can be addressed.

The vote to oust Blanksma appeared to occur behind closed doors during one of several House Republican caucus meetings Thursday. There was no public vote or announcement on the House floor. House Republicans have not disclosed the vote against Blanksma or the votes to retain Dixon and Manwaring.

Rep. Megan Blanksma, R-Hammett, was removed from her position as majority leader, the most senior position in the House after Speaker Mike Moyle. The vote against Blanksma came a day after she was the lone House leader to vote against budgets passed by a panel of lawmakers — an apparent statement made over a new controversial process for setting state agencies’ budgets.

“This is a difference of opinion,” Rep. Megan Blanksma, who sponsored the Medicaid waivers bill, told the Idaho Capital Sun in an interview. “The governor has one opinion, and the Legislature has a different opinion. And it’ll all get worked out in the end.”