As I understand it Utah has one of the most fiscally sound state budgets. I think it is a matter of priorities. I think the culture is more comfortable with people jumping through hoops with family and The Church (I mean the LDS church), so government spending isn't a priority. 49th in per capita spending on Medicaid and something near that on the school system is interesting. I wonder if the two are linked in some way. From my own experience, family and religion can only do so much. When I see the suffering in my own life and others, I'd like to know where to find all this fraud and inefficiency I hear administration and politicians refer to.

The net should shrink by becoming more efficient, not expand.

I hope that you have to rely on medicaid for your family soon. Maybe you will have an eye opening experience.

at least it was in my life. With medicaid, I was able to continue with my plan to complete an advanced degree despite an unexpected $140k+ medical bill after my children were hospitalized. Without that help, there is no way I would have been able to stay in school. I was able to double my salary with the degree, and I figure the extra taxes I will pay as a result will more than make up the cost to the state over the course of my career.

The program is running more efficiently than you would think. They quickly terminated our coverage once I started my new job and the periodic reviews required documentation from 3rd parties. They have consolidated their operations with DWS and did away with personal case workers. I've got to question what basis people have when it seems they are blindly calling for efficiency to make up the money. Is it simply reliance on the stereotype that all govn't functions are inefficient? Making that assumption is likely to be a mistake in Utah.