Deseret News: Meetings to Resolve Medicaid Expansion Will be Closed, Governor's Office Says - Updated

If the Governor and the State Legislature are intent upon conducting these negotiations behind closed doors, somebody must have something sinister to hide

As a followup to our coverage of the 2015 Utah Legislative Medicaid expansion fiasco, we'll present this tidbit and link, obtained via Utah State Senator James Dabakis:

So 126,000 low income Utah families will now wait nervously outside the locked door as life and death decisions are being made for their families lives. 'The horse trading' by the same 6 people who could not agree for 2 years, all Republican, all making at least 100K a year, all totally state insurance covered, all males---will do the 'negotiating' BEHIND CLOSED DOORS. Congrats gentleman, the stalling has already cost low income Utahns at least $700 million dollars in paid-for health care coverage! Oh the high price our state pays to keep a few TeaPeople delegates satiated!

Read the disheartening full story folks:

• Meetings to resolve Medicaid expansion will be closed, governor's office says

Whatever happened to Utah's Open Meetings Law, we ask?

Beware of "secret combinations," Utah Lumpencitizens.

Our take?  If the Governor and the State Legislature are intent upon conducting these negotiations behind closed doors, somebody must have something sinister to hide.

Update 3/28/15 9:35 a.m.:  Via the Standard-Examiner, here comes the blowback, folks:

• Utah leaders criticized for closed-door Medicaid talks

“... I think the intent is to be open and transparent on this issue,” says Governor Herbert, (with a completely straight face).