OPINION — On Nov. 6, Utah voters passed Proposition 3 and finally put to rest a years-long debate. Voters choose to fully expand the Medicaid program as directed under the law, without relying on waiver approval from the Trump administration.
Now Medicaid expansion must be implemented, with enrollment beginning on April 1, as the voters decided. Vulnerable Utahns cannot wait another day to get the care they need. For some individuals, this is the help they’ve been waiting for in order to get healthy and get back to work. For others, this is the key to finally access lifesaving medical treatment before it’s too late.
Yet recent news indicates that an effort to repeal the expansion under Proposition 3 is being considered by members of the Utah Legislature. They claim the ballot initiative to expand Medicaid, now Utah state law, must be repealed and replaced with their plan, which would indefinitely delay access to care.
Any delay or significant change to Proposition 3 is a repeal of the will of the people. Calling legislative actions “fixes,” “tweaks” or “amendments” may soften the language around repeal, but it won’t soften the harmful impact.
The Utah Legislature had six years to put together a Medicaid expansion, but it took the public to step up and get it done. Now the same elected officials who trusted your vote to put them into office evidently don’t trust your vote to expand Medicaid. Contact your legislators and the governor today, and stand up for your vote and for the health and well-being of your neighbors.
Submitted by MATT SLONAKER, executive director, Utah Health Policy Project.
Letters to the Editor are not the product of St. George News, its editors, staff or news contributors. The matters stated and opinions given are the responsibility of the person submitting them. They do not reflect the product or opinion of St. George News and are given only light edit for technical style and formatting.
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No longer surprised at the blatant disregard for voters by the Utah legislature.
This is what happens when you live in a theocracy run by a religious organization. An organization that claims ‘free-agency’ for all yet uses its members in powerful political positions to take away free-agency and subvert the will of the people.
Utah legislature is the very definition of hypocrisy at its finest.
You and I are usually on opposite sides of the opinion wall, but, as far as this topic goes I agree with you.
The same voters voice was suppressed on Prop 2.
I’m sure the rest of the nation looks at Utah as an abomination of voters rights stemmed from the overbearing religious control of the Mormons.
Sort of keeps that polygamist philosophy taste fresh in people’s mouths.
Of course this state’s Church won’t ever find themselves in the correct position of the separation of church and state. It wouldn’t be as profitable to fund all those temples.
…and they say they’re the “true church”….
The Mormon church is the abomination.
It is not government’s responsibility to provide healthcare, especially when borrowed dollars are being used. Reduce all taxes and have a simplified means to fund those few areas government should be involved in.
WE THE PEOPLE VOTED – now do your job and implement the law. Never forget, you work for us!
Unlike California, Utah will pay their way, no debt. It’s the responsible thing to do.
Nobody was talking about California.
The point is, Utah works off a balanced budget. California is $300 billion in debt. By law, the voters don’t enact law, that’s the job of the legislature. The funding didn’t work.
NOBODY is talking about California. Except you.
Utah legislators will do whatever they and the Church want……as long as people keep blindly re electing them by 80-20 margins. Regardless of political ideology, it is just stupefying to read the nonstop complaining about our Good ol’ Boy elected officials and their total disregard for the people they supposedly represent. But as long as they have ZERO fear of losing an election, why would they change a thing? Utah needs to start perusing all the other columns on the ballot.