Congressional candidate Morgan Philpot pledges to stop 'Obamacare'

SALT LAKE CITY — Republican 2nd District congressional candidate Morgan Philpot said Thursday he will work to stop federal health care reform.

Philpot, who is seeking to unseat Rep. Jim Matheson, D-Utah, said at a news conference he wants to "return to states creating solutions for health care."

Matheson voted against reform. But Philpot said Matheson didn't do enough to stop the passage of the legislation backed by President Barack Obama.

"He could have been a part of stopping that bill. But he refused to do that, and he has refused to take it on now as a congressman," Philpot said. "I will work to repeal it. I will work to defund it, and (Matheson) has already committed not to do that."

Matheson said he believes the bill will be modified.

"We ought to work in a constructive way," he said. "We shouldn't be throwing out empty political talking points. I'm going to be part of the solution to make it better."

Philpot warned health care reform could add more than $500 billion to the nation's deficit over the next decade. In Utah, enrollment in Medicaid and CHIP, the children's health insurance program, would increase by more than one-third, he said.

Philpot said even if the GOP takes control of Congress and repeals the law, their action would likely not withstand a presidential veto. He said he was willing to push for other measures, including taking away funding.

Philpot was joined at his news conference by GOP Attorney General Mark Shurtleff. Utah is one of 20 states challenging the federal health care plan as unconstitutional.

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