Prop 3: The Fix Is In
The Utah Legislature is intent on disrespecting Utah citizens and citizen initiatives. The disrespect of repealing citizen-passed Prop 2 (medical cannabis) and hurriedly replacing it with an unworkable law looks like it will serve as the pattern for the Utah Legislature's unravelling of citizen-passed Prop 3 (Medicaid expansion). Several sources inside the Utah Legislature tell The Utah Bee that House and Senate Republican leadership intend to pass SB 96 Medicaid Expansion Adjustments by next week. The bill just passed the Senate Health and Human Services Committee today (the second day of the General Session) along party lines.
The Bee's sources say that the sole reason for the rush is to outpace citizens' ability to participate. This, of course, is an insult to the public and stakeholders in the debate--or, rather, the debate that should occur--not giving the public time and opportunity to digest the legislative action, disseminate its contents to the public, and properly respond.
The Utah Legislature seems intent on using the worst tools in its toolbox to respond to citizen initiatives.