Utah's Republican governor Gary Herbert sought to expand Medicaid under Obamacare, but state Republican lawmakers were having none of that.
As many as 125,000 people may have been covered by the expansion, but only 7 out of 63 House Republicans in the state legislature would support it.
"Everyone loves expanding Medicaid until they have to pay for it," [House Speaker Greg Hughes] said, although he said the search for a way to cover the poorest Utahns and those deemed medically frail will continue. "I do believe the State of Utah and it's Legislature has the political will to provide health care to those who need it."
The plan also fell well-short of the 15 votes needed to pass the bill in the Senate, even with Democratic votes counted, Senate President Wayne Niederhauser, R-Sandy, said.
Utah Speaker Greg Hugh may believe his party has the "political will to provide health care" to the poor, but if they're not willing to pay for it, it's not clear how they will accomplish that.
Expanding Medicaid is undoubtedly the best and cheapest way to expand healthcare for the poor as the federal government will cover 90 to 95 percent of the cost for the foreseeable future.
It's not going to get any cheaper than that.