EDITORIAL: What matters more — repealing the ACA or the health of 190,000 Utahns?

Jan. 22--It is a cherished Republican principle that the people know best.

When faced with a choice between federal initiative and the state sovereignty, the GOP believes, always defer to the states.

But now that principle will be put to the test in Utah, thanks to Republican Gov. Gary Herbert.

When House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy asked the nation's governors for guidance on how to proceed with the Affordable Care Act, Herbert warned Congress could put the health of nearly 190,000 Utahns at risk if it repeals the ACA without replacing it.

By the end of 2016, Herbert said, about 186,000 Utahns had signed up for insurance via healthcare.gov. That dropped Utah's uninsured rate by 3.5 points in six years, to 10.5 percent, Herbert told McCarthy.

"As we work to re-craft healthcare in our country we must be careful not to increase the rate of uninsured, particularly for our most vulnerable citizens," Herbert said in his Jan. 13 letter.

Herbert opposed Obamacare, but he saw the benefits of Medicaid expansion. Not the Republican supermajority in the Utah Legislature, however. In 2015, they rejected Herbert's Healthy Utah plan, even though the federal government agreed to pay 90 percent of the cost.

Out of sheer hatred for Obamacare, state lawmakers only agreed to accept a 2016 expansion for about 16,000 homeless, mentally ill and paroled Utahns. Herbert's plan, by contrast, would've provided health care coverage for an additional 125,000 people.

Herbert said he understands that crafting a workable replacement for the ACA may take years, but immediately repealing it and leaving nearly 190,000 Utahns without health insurance isn't an acceptable option.

"Utah's citizens cannot wait for such a lengthy process," Herbert told McCarthy.

So what are you going to do, Rep. Rob Bishop?

How about you, Rep. Jason Chaffetz?

Or you, Reps. Mia Love and Chris Stewart?

And let's not forget you, Sens. Orrin Hatch and Mike Lee.

Who knows what's best for the health of Utahns -- Gov. Gary Herbert or Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky?

Herbert or House Speaker Paul Ryan of Wisconsin?

Herbert or President Donald Trump?

Utahns elected you because you're Republicans. Now they need you to act on Republican principles.

They need you to put Utahns first.

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