healthy utah | Alliance for a Better Utah

OpEd: Healthy Utah’s failure shows legislators out of mainstream

Better Utah March 23, 2015

No one should get everything they want from a legislative session. Good policy comes from negotiation, compromise and listening to the will of the people. Unfortunately, the 2015 session again demonstrates the result of failing to adhere to those principles. There were high points to be sure. Widely supported statewide anti-discrimination legislation finally passed. Elation

Kicking the Healthy Utah can down the road.

Better Utah March 18, 2015

The gavel fell at midnight last Thursday marking the end of the 2015 Legislative session. But even though the legislature passed 524 new bills, they left the most important bill sitting on the table–Healthy Utah Medicaid Expansion. Once again, tens of thousands of Utahns are left without coverage, unable to get preventative care and left

Will Senate stand up to obstructionist House?

Better Utah March 6, 2015

Salt Lake City — Through a series of procedural votes, a majority of House members have now gone on record against Governor Herbert’s Healthy Utah plan, despite the plan’s widespread support among a majority of Utahns, the state Senate and the Governor. The Alliance for a Better UTAH has released the following statement in response

Who is Speaker Hughes protecting?

Better Utah March 4, 2015

The Healthy Utah Medicaid expansion plan is the culmination of two years of negotiations by the Governor. It has been thoroughly reviewed by the Interim Legislative Health Reform Task Force. It enjoys overwhelming public support. It has also been heard in a Senate committee and debated on the Senate floor, not once, but twice, each

Holding Greg Hughes accountable, Better UTAH calls for hearing Healthy Utah

Better Utah February 26, 2015

Salt Lake City — In a press conference today, House Speaker Greg Hughes reiterated his opposition to Healthy Utah and confirmed his resolve to hold back any discussion of the bill. In response, Maryann Martindale, executive director of Alliance for a Better UTAH, has released the following statement: “The Healthy Utah plan enjoys overwhelming support

Op-ed: Healthy Utah shows Utah GOP’s intraparty struggle

Better Utah February 9, 2015

Two legislators are leading the effort to block Governor Herbert’s Healthy Utah Plan in what is turning out to be a showdown between Utah’s legislative and executive branches. “Led by committee co-chairs Dunnigan and Christensen, the Health Reform Task Force voted not to endorse the Healthy Utah Plan, much to the astonishment of observers, the

New campaign to hold legislators accountable for Healthy Utah votes

Better Utah February 4, 2015

Salt Lake City — Good government group Alliance for a Better UTAH is launching a campaign to hold Rep. Jim Dunnigan and Sen. Allen Christensen accountable for their roles in blocking Governor Herbert’s Healthy Utah Plan. Herbert’s plan, while still falling short of full Medicaid expansion, would allow access to affordable health insurance for thousands

Support Governor Herbert’s Healthy Utah Plan

Better Utah February 4, 2015

Sen. Allen Christensen and Rep. Jim Dunnigan have led the legislature’s efforts to block Governor Herbert’s Healthy Utah Plan — a plan that would allow access to affordable health insurance for thousands of working Utah families. Christensen and Dunnigan have gone too far. It’s time to fight back. We’re fighting back today by launching a campaign

With such good polling will Legislature finally listen?

Better Utah January 28, 2015

There are about 840 numbered bills during each legislative session. Of those, about 59% ultimately pass. That’s a lot of bills vying for the attention of our legislators. Whether through media coverage or public outcry, there are always a few of those 800+ that really capture our attention. Three of those that we know will be front

Day 1: Legislative session too important to tune out

Better Utah January 26, 2015

As I write this the pomp and circumstance of a new legislative session is just getting underway. Aside from the actual legislative participants and a few observers, many Utahns are only vaguely aware that today marks the beginning of Utah’s 45-day legislative session. A lot will happen over the next few weeks–some of it will be

Tag: healthy utah