Utah House Majority Leader Clark not dealt a fair hand by the media
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No comments [ Add Comment ]By Rep. Brad Dee
Guest commentary
W
hoa, boy. Before we look for the hanging tree for Utah House Majority Leader Dave Clark (the "Dixie Kid" in Sunday's Standard-Examiner editorial cartoon), maybe we ought to have an investigation into the facts.
After all, I thought lynching was a thing of the past.
As reported by this newspaper in Sunday's editorial headlined "Legislative hostage takers," the Salt Lake City Deseret Morning News wrote that Rep. Clark said a recent health care reform measure is doomed to failure in the Legislature unless the business community supports school vouchers. The Standard's editorial calls this "Political extortion at its worst."
I would agree with the editorial board, if he had actually said that, but he didn't. What he did say was for this health care reform to work we must have support from the business community. He did not tie this issue to vouchers. He did not threaten the business community on its support or nonsupport of any other issue. He was merely referring to the fact that the business community should be involved in every decision which may affect its ability to do business in Utah, including education.
The United Way of Salt Lake City, along with elected officials, business leaders and health care experts have been working with members of legislative leadership to draft a proposal which may be the foundation for a comprehensive universal health care plan for all Utahns, including those presently uninsured.
Apparently, United Way officials understood the comments made by Rep. Clark much better than the reporter from the Deseret Morning News. Bill Crim, director of strategic initiatives and public policy, offers this quote when asked about Rep. Clark's remarks: "United Way staff have been present in every meeting of the Financial Stability Health Care Working Group, and have had several meetings with legislators, including Rep. Clark, about health system reform and the Financial Stability Council proposal. At no time has Rep. Clark, any member of legislative leadership, or any other legislator said or implied to us that passage of health reform is contingent on support of any other issue. On the contrary Rep. Clark and other legislative leaders have worked very closely with us to develop and support a health system reform proposal based on conservative principles that can provide more choices, more affordability, more coverage and more quality to all Utahns."
Majority Leader Clark has been a leader in this health care effort.
I have been in meetings in Washington, D.C., where staff members of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services have praised Utah, and particularly Rep. Clark, for our willingness to lead out in this vital area, and look for real and workable solutions to the health care problems in Utah and our nation.
To the point, I know David Clark. He is an honest, hard-working legislative leader. I have spent countless hours in meetings with him discussing a variety of issues. Rep. Clark has worked so hard to bring this issue to our legislative body that he would never hold this health care proposal hostage, regardless of business leaders' support or nonsupport of school vouchers.
Rep. Clark believes these are two separate issues, two separate debates, two separate proposals.
I believe the Deseret Morning News owes Rep. Clark an apology. I also think it might try to be a little more objective in its reporting.
Dee, the House's assistant majority whip, represents legislative District 11. He lives in Washington Terrace.
