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Governor Herbert Shifts Blame on Expansion Stalemate to ACA

KUER
Gary R. Herbert, Governor of Utah, at his monthly KUED News Conference

Governor Gary Herbert shifted much of the blame for Utah’s Medicaid expansion stalemate on inherent flaws in the Affordable Care Act. At his monthly news conference on KUED Thursday, Herbert said his original Healthy Utah plan is still the best he’s seen. And while he wishes the state could get federal money for the program in the form of block grants, he said concern that there’s a growing reliance on the federal government is a myth.

“The historic average over the last twenty years has been between 25 and 26%. We’re not any more beholden to the federal government to get our money back here to Utah today than we were twenty years ago,” said Herbert.

Also at the news conference, Herbert reaffirmed his commitment to the death penalty in light of four states recently suspending executions.

“I’ve been a supporter of capital punishment with these parameters. One, it should be extremely rare, and be done and incorporated for the most heinous crimes." The Governor said, "That’s how Utah’s done it. We have eight people, I think, on death row today. It’s not a common occurrence.”

Herbert also said the process should be streamlined. He said justice delayed is justice denied.

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