This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

To have Healthy Utah, we need a healthy electorate — Salt Lake Tribune Editorial

" ... If Healthy Utah is to be a bellwether, if it is to rally mainstream Utahns to take up the Count My Vote/SB 54 challenge and field candidates without the out-of-touch litmus tests of the caucus/convention system, then those challengers will need to bring new voters with them.

"If new candidates can rally more Utahns to do their patriotic duty and actually vote, Utah's true voice may someday be heard in the House chamber."

Utah lawmakers get premium state health care while debating what to give the poor — Kristen Moulton and Lee Davidson | The Salt Lake Tribune

"The health care coverage that many low-income Utahns would get under the plan advanced by the House on Friday may be the insurance equivalent of a Yugo, sponsor Majority Leader Jim Dunnigan acknowledged.

" 'But it still drives,' the Taylorsville Republican said, arguing for his HB446, Utah Cares, before a House committee.

"The ride, however, is nowhere near as sweet as that enjoyed by the more than 90 percent of Utah lawmakers who take the health insurance offered to them as part-time state employees. ..."

" ... A plurality of Republicans (46%) say they favor Healthy Utah over Utah Cares and doing nothing. 80% of Democrats and 58% of political independents say they choose Healthy Utah. ..."

Alternative health care plan is no plan — Ogden Standard-Examiner Editorial

" ... We think Utah lawmakers are blinded by the right wing mantra that 'if you don't want the federal government telling you what to do, then don't take its money.' In the meantime, Utah's poor and needy suffer at the hands of conservative Republicans who want to send Washington a message.

"That is an immoral philosophy. ..."

Healthy Utah would be lifesaving help for good people — Michele Margetts | For The Salt Lake Tribune

" ... None of our Republican legislators who oppose Medicaid expansion in Utah have experienced the consequences of having no insurance. They have excellent health plans provided by taxpayers. Nor, it seems, do they know anyone who has had to go without insurance or is seriously underinsured. ..."

In Utah, some charity, some malice — George Pyle | The Salt Lake Tribune

" ... No, I'm not going to try to tell you that Lincoln would have favored Healthy Utah. In his day, there was little point in health insurance, subsidized or not, because all our expensive medicines, procedures and devices were a century or more away. Then, the inequality between rich and poor in times of illness was mainly the comfort of the bed you died in.

"But Honest Abe would have seen through the lies at the heart of the House's so-called Utah Cares alternative. A truth in advertising provision would demand that the plan be called Utah Doesn't Give A Rat's Behind. ..."

Lawmakers are losing moral ground — John Florez | For The Deseret News

" ... Last week, the speaker of the House killed the chances of considering the governor's bill for Healthy Utah to provide health care to 126,500 Utahns. It passed the Senate, but the speaker said the House would not hear it because there was not time, they had to consider the gas tax and other issues before the end of the session. It raises the moral question — what is more important: raising gas taxes or the health of our citizens? ..."