Utah Legislature: Anti-federal health reform measures moving through Legislature

SALT LAKE CITY — State senators have joined the House in officially telling members of Congress to back off its misguided and possibly unconstitutional health care system reform effort. And, while they're at it, they can kindly stay the heck out of Utah's way as it moves forward with its own reforms.

HJR11, approved 18-8 in the Senate on Thursday, neither endorses the status quo nor says certain reforms are necessary. It's just to put the federal government on notice about any reforms approved in Washington that might pre-empt state insurance laws, including mandating people buy an insurance plan, said sponsor Rep Mike Morley, R-Spanish Fork. The resolution also urges Congress to forget about creating a new federal insurance public option, a safety net insurance plan included in U.S. House reform plans.

Another resolution, HCR8, is more targeted but similarly urges Congress and the president not to restrict the state's ability to regulate the payment and delivery of health care. And, if federal reform legislation is approved, it will not automatically trump the state's reform effort already in its third year. HCR8 has passed the House and awaits action in the Senate.

See the resolutions at le.utah.gov/~2010/bills/hbillint/hjr011.htm and le.utah.gov/~2010/htmdoc/hbillhtm/hcr008.htm.

— James Thalman