CORRECTION: - Utah Democratic Party, Democratic State House and Senate Members and Democratic Candidates Respond To Failed, Arrogant and Irresponsible Leadership in Utah's Legislature.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NEWS RELEASE

Utah Democratic Party, Democratic State House and Senate Members and Democratic Candidates Respond To Failed, Arrogant and Irresponsible Leadership in Utah's Legislature.

Wednesday’s special session of the legislature would have had a different outcome on at least one important issue if Democrats had been in the majority.
 
The Democrats listed below pledge that they would have appropriated a full restoration of funds needed to restore dental benefits to blind, aged and disabled Utahns who cannot otherwise afford such care.
 
It is frustrating to know that in this time of plenty, when the state of Utah had surpluses in excess of $1 billion that we won’t take care of the neediest in our community. The Republican Legislature's failure to vote on basic health care for the poorest among us sorely disappointed the citizens of Utah. Providing the extra Medicaid funds is the right and moral thing to do.

Governor Huntsman did the right thing by putting the item on the special session Call and was able to find the funds within the current Health Department budget. But on party line votes — Republicans opposing the spending, Democrats for it — the $2 million bill was defeated without even letting it be voted on the floor of either chamber.

The Republican infighting was about politics, not serving the interest of our people. We need legislators who stand up for Utah and not their own political interests. Not only was their action a failure on humanitarian grounds, it was a return to backroom deal-making and the lack of courage to allow a floor debate.
 
The idea that the legislators’ failure to vote helps them avoids criticism for a "no" vote is misguided. We know who is responsible. The absence of a vote is a "no" vote because it has the same effect.

The failed Republican leadership in the Legislature revealed a party at odds with our Governor and with the majority of Utah's citizens.  Infighting and power struggles resulted in arrogance and a lack of character to do the right thing.  Hiding behind Committee votes without the transparency of a rightful floor debate and a full disclosure of the vote is an act of cowardice.  This failure to Stand for Something demonstrates that GOP leadership has lost touch with shared values and common decency of Utah citizens.  It serves clear notice that Utah needs change, or the future will only bring more of the same.

The election of Democratic Party candidates this November is an opportunity to assure that the values and morals of our state and its citizens will honored and that the elderly and less fortunate will not be minimized in such an insensitive and mean spirited manner.  The fine people of our state deserve better than to be embarrassed by a lack of courage and leadership.  The Utah legislature needs change in the upcoming election.  Without change, we will only get more of the same. The choice is clear.  Utah deserves better.

Signatories