I was interested in a recent headline in The Tribune: “Three years after Roy plane crash, Utah passes law requiring pilot insurance.”
A pilot in a private plane crashed into a woman’s car in 2017, and he didn’t have liability insurance. After the crash, the victim had to initiate legal action in an attempt to recover damages for her injuries and other financial losses. Legal action in the case is ongoing three years later.
Our federal delegation and state elected officials fought the ACA mandate requiring citizens to obtain medical insurance. Our legislature fought expansion of Medicaid, overturning a voter approved referendum which approved Medicaid expansion. Fortunately, the legislative override was modified later with passage of a bill that was a compromise, and finally — fighting and screaming — Utah expanded its Medicaid coverage as part of the ACA.
By law, the state of Utah requires drivers to carry a minimal amount of liability insurance when they register their vehicles.
How are these two state mandated requirements to purchase insurance any different than the federal government requiring citizens to have medical insurance? The mandate for medical insurance was overturned by the courts.
What incredible hypocrisy on the part of our elected officials.
Thomas E. Chandler, Delta
