Guest opinion: RFK Jr. will transform Utahâs healthcare accessibility for the better
by Jared Whitley
Utahâs population has grown beyond 3.5 million residents, reflecting an almost 20% increase since 2010. This growth brings both opportunities and challenges, particularly in healthcare. The escalating costs of prescription medications have become a pressing concern for many Utahns, especially for those residing in the more rural areas of the state, where access to affordable healthcare is far more limited.
In this context, Utahns should be incredibly grateful that both Sens. Mike Lee and John Curtis voted on Thursday to confirm Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as Secretary of Health and Human Services, the federal governmentâs top healthcare position. Kennedy was confirmed on by partisan, razor-thin margin â so small that even just one of Utahâs two senators voting no could have prevented him from taking the post. Thank heavens they chose to move Kennedyâs nomination forward because the high-profile nephew of Pres. JFK has proven to address the healthcare concerns that are at the top of Utahnsâ minds...
Kennedy wants to see an end to the days where healthcare policy is so seemingly coin-operated in Washington, D.C. This goal resonates deeply with many Utahns who have experienced the burden of high medication costs, such as the stateâs 30% of adults who report not taking their prescribed medication due to cost concerns. This staggering statistic highlights the necessity of having a leader like Kennedy who is committed to standing up against pharmaceutical price gouging. (Read More)
News Releases
Utah State Bar: Legislature wants its thumb on the scale in judicial retention elections
Following Mondayâs House Judiciary Standing Committeeâs 7-2 vote on House Bill 512 â Judicial Retention Changes, the Utah State Bar is strengthening its opposition in a not-so-veiled attempt by the Legislature to put its thumb on the scale in judicial retention elections. The billâs sponsor, House Majority Whip Karianne Lisonbee, said in the meeting before the committee vote that candidates are identified with political affiliations to inform voters in their decision making and that âjudges should, too.â
However, the information that voters would get comes from the billâs proposed politically driven Joint Legislative Committee on Judicial Performance. This new committee, composed solely of nine legislators, would override the established Judicial Performance Evaluation Commission (JPEC), which the legislature created in 2008 to provide a balanced, transparent, and data-driven evaluation of judges. Unlike JPEC, which evaluates judges based on well-defined criteriaâincluding courtroom management, judicial temperament, integrity, legal ability, and caseload managementâthe proposed legislative committee could base its recommendations on subjective opinions and political biases. (Read More)
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