Letter: Lockhart should take her arguments even further

Speaker Becky Lockhart is upset with Gov. Gary Herbert, and rightfully so. She cannot understand why the governor would saddle Utah any further with Obamacare (the most costly and catastrophic federal mandate of all).

Apparently, she has read the U.S. Constitution, and it doesn't say anything about funding health care for the poor. I applaud our speaker for her strong patriotic stance, and would love to see her continue this argument to its end ("Utah Legislature opens 45-day session with some sparks," Jan. 27).

We should require hospitals to pre-approve any emergency room patient before care is given. After all, it's costly for all of us working people to have to pay for those unfunded mandates (let's call them that).

Our state will be richer and stronger if we steadfastly leave those who are unable to pay in the gutter.

She also criticizes Gov. Herbert for his inaction on air quality and education, so I look forward to the slew of legislation that she brings to the House floor this session to address those issues as well. I also look forward to voting for our new governor in 2016 — don't let me down, Speaker.

Craig Kelley

Salt Lake City