First Substitute S.C.R. 6

Senator Gregory S. Bell proposes the following substitute bill:

1 RESOLUTION URGING STATES RIGHTS TO
2 INNOVATE HEALTH CARE
3 2007 GENERAL SESSION
4 STATE OF UTAH
5 Chief Sponsor: Gregory S. Bell
6 House Sponsor: Kory M. Holdaway
7
8 LONG TITLE
9 General Description:
10 This concurrent resolution of the Legislature and the Governor urges the United States
11 Congress to pass “The Health Partnership Through Creative Federalism Act” during the
12 current congressional session.
13 Highlighted Provisions:
14 This resolution:
15 . urges the United States Congress to consider and pass “The Health Partnership
16 Through Creative Federalism Act” during the current congressional session; and
17 . urges the members of Utah's congressional delegation to cosponsor and actively
18 pursue passage of this legislation.
19 Special Clauses:
20 None
21
22 Be it resolved by the Legislature of the state of Utah, the Governor concurring therein:
23 WHEREAS, the 10th Amendment to the United States Constitution reserves to the
24 states powers not delegated to the federal government;
25 WHEREAS, health policy powers are not delegated to the federal government by the

26 United States Constitution;
27 WHEREAS, Congress has enacted laws and budgets which substantially restrict the
28 states from setting effective health policy;
29 WHEREAS, federal health policy leaves more than 46 million Americans, including
30 400,000 Utahns, without health insurance;
31 WHEREAS, numerous states have been actively searching for appropriate solutions to
32 the problem to meet the specific and highly individualized needs of their particular state;
33 WHEREAS, the vast majority of uninsured Utahns are either employed, or dependent
34 upon someone who is employed, and are therefore paying taxes which support federal, state,
35 and local health programs;
36 WHEREAS, the increase in Utah's uninsured rate was for greater than the increase in
37 the national rate during 2004-05, much of this owing to the fact that Utah's economy is
38 dominated by small businesses;
39 WHEREAS, health care costs consume approximately 16.5 % of the gross domestic
40 product, up from 5% in 1960 and 9% in the 1980s;
41 WHEREAS, tax revenues make up the majority of the budget for health care in the
42 United States, which at more than $6,300 per person in 2004, substantially exceeds any other
43 nation's health care expenses;
44 WHEREAS, businesses in the United States are facing runaway inflation in health care
45 costs, currently 7.7 % annually, with the inflation rate consistently in excess of three times the
46 core inflation rate;
47 WHEREAS, between 2000-04 Utah businesses saw premium increases that were five
48 times the increase in earnings;
49 WHEREAS, to compete in a global economic environment, Utah's businesses will need
50 a dependably healthy workforce at a controllable cost;
51 WHEREAS, the current health care delivery system in the United States and in Utah is
52 highly inefficient;
53 WHEREAS, Congress has not been able or willing to pass effective health policy
54 legislation;
55 WHEREAS, states, given relief from the burden of unnecessary federal health
56 regulation while retaining present federal health funding, could effectively organize needed

57 health services for all residents;
58 WHEREAS, Utah has unique advantages with respect to demographics, healthy and
59 active lifestyles, and health care delivery systems that lend themselves to a state-based health
60 care financing solution; and
61 WHEREAS, legislation has been introduced in the 110th Congress entitled "The Health
62 Partnership Through Creative Federalism Act" and is expected to be reintroduced in the near
63 future:
64 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of the state of Utah, the
65 Governor concurring therein, urge the United States Congress to pass "The Health Partnership
66 Through Creative Federalism Act" during the current congressional session.
67 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature and the Governor urge the
68 members of Utah's congressional delegation to cosponsor and actively pursue passage of this
69 legislation.
70 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be sent to the President of
71 the United States, the Majority Leader of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United
72 States House of Representatives, and to the members of Utah's congressional delegation.