Skip to Content

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: PUBLIC OPPOSITION TO MEDICAID EXPANSION OVER 60% AS UTAHNS LEARN OF NEW TAXES

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: PUBLIC OPPOSITION TO MEDICAID EXPANSION OVER 60% AS UTAHNS LEARN OF NEW TAXES
3 OUT OF 4 GOP VOTERS ARE LESS LIKELY TO REELECT A PRO-EXPANSION LEGISLATOR

The more Utahns learn about the risks and the high cost of ObamaCare’s Medicaid expansion, the more they oppose it, says a poll released today by the Foundation for Government Accountability. Almost half of all Utah voters are initially opposed to Medicaid expansion, but once they learn about the unpredictable costs, the risks to other state services, and the tax on health care under consideration, opposition climbs to 61.5 percent, with 83.7 percent of all GOP voters opposed.

Utahns are especially concerned about the way Medicaid expansion discussions have taken place, with plans to raise taxes on health care providers to cover some of the costs being negotiated behind closed doors with no access for the public or the media.

“ObamaCare’s Medicaid expansion, whether you call it ‘Healthy Utah,’ “Utah Access+,’ or anything else, will be a disaster for Utah’s truly needy, patients, doctors, taxpayers, and according to this poll, politicians,” said FGA CEO Tarren Bragdon.

“The last thing Utahns want are higher costs every time they go to the doctor’s office simply because the legislature decided to fund expansion through a provider tax. ObamaCare is already driving up the cost of health care in Utah without the leadership expanding it.”

Medicaid expansion and any tax increases will likely be big issues for voters when they return to the polls, and 56 percent of all voters, 66.8 percent of Republicans, say they will be less likely to reelect Gov. Gary Herbert if he raises taxes or fees to fund expansion. State legislators who raise taxes or fees for expansion will have an even harder time, with 61.6 percent of voters less likely to reelect them, and 75 % of Republicans.

“The people are ready to send a clear message to pro-expansion politicians, and that is they don’t want expansion in their state,” said Bragdon. “As a former state legislator, I know how hard it is to win an election even in a one-party district. Medicaid expansion is the kind of issue that will drive people to oppose you.”

The FGA poll results can be viewed here.

###

At FGA, we don’t just talk about changing policy—we make it happen.

By partnering with FGA through a gift, you can create more policy change that returns America to a country where entrepreneurship thrives, personal responsibility is rewarded, and paychecks replace welfare checks.