OCR Text |
Show A-10 The Park Record Wed/Thurs/Fri, March 14-16, 2018 Debate over Utah’s Medicaid SheTech aims to expansion continues at forum even playing field Lawmakers, advocates to discuss policy JAMES HOYT The Park Record While the Utah State Legislature passed a proposal to expand federal Medicaid funding in Utah on the final day of its session last week, the conversation is far from over. As the state awaits the Trump administration’s approval of the lawmakers’ bill, a ballot initiative pushing an alternative solution is picking up steam. The Project for Deeper Understanding, a local initiative that hosts discussions centered on hot-button issues, is set to hold a panel on Thursday, March 15, featuring a number of different voices on the contentious issue, as well as a question-and-answer session for attendees. The Rev. Charles Robinson, a leader of the Project, said he hopes for a high turnout. RyLee Curtis, one of the panelists, is spearheading the Medicaid expansion ballot Panelists Beth Armstrong - Moderator - People’s Health Clinic RyLee Curtis - Campaign director, Utah Decides Bishop Scott Hayashi - Episcopal Diocese of Utah Rep. Brian S. King (D) - Utah Legislature Rep. Logan Wilde (R) - Utah Legislature Derek Monson - Executive director, Sutherland Institute Source: The Project for Deeper Understanding initiative called Utah Decides. The ballot initiative differs from the Legislature’s solution by including people earning up to 138 percent of the federal poverty line, as well as omitting work requirements and other qualifications. It also wouldn’t need Trump’s stamp of approval. A poll taken by the Hinckley Institute of Politics and the Salt Lake Tribune last year reported that more than twothirds of Utahns supported putting the initiative on the ballot. And Curtis says that, while not all the requisite signatures have been collected yet, it’s well on its way to the ballot box. Rep. Brian S. King, D-Salt Lake, will also sit on the panel. King was a “no” vote on the Legislature’s Medicaid expansion solution. While Medicaid expansion is an idea he endorses, he disagreed with the poverty line criteria and the work requirement. He said he thinks the forum will be a good venue for reasoned public input on the issue that lawmakers can take into account in the future. He’ll also share the table with Rep. Logan Wilde, R-Croydon, a conservative who voted “yes” on the bill. Wilde said that, in the midst of negotiations with the Trump administration on acceptable terms, the window the Legislature found was too good of an opportunity to pass up. He said he’s interested in debating the merits of his vote with the panelists who would have liked to see the bill go further. The discussion’s moderator is set to be someone with a unique stake in the debate. Beth Armstrong, executive director of the People’s Health Clinic, a non-emergency clinic in Park City serving the uninsured, will oversee the dialogue and direct attendees to the Utah Decides petition. She said addressing the “gap” of people left without Medicaid and getting Utah Decides on the ballot are two issues of particular concern. “I’d love to get as many people possible in the room,” Armstrong said. According to the Project, topics of discussion will include the number of people between 95 and 138 percent of the poverty line left out of Medicaid, the arguments against expansion and how expansion will be funded. “Is Medicaid Expansion Right For Utah?” A forum hosted by The Project For Deeper Understanding, is scheduled to be held at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church at 4595 N. Silver Springs Drive in Snyderville at 7:00 p.m. Thursday. Students attend conference on women in STEM ZOE BROWN Park Record intern On March 1, more than 2,000 girls gathered in the Mountain American Exposition Center in Sandy for the SheTech Conference. These girls, ranging from ninth- to 12th-graders, were there for one purpose: to learn about and encourage their activity in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math). Founded by the Women Tech Council, the SheTech Conference is an annual conference held in Utah to encourage girls to connect with STEM. “SheTech is a STEM activation program,” said Cydni Tetro, president of the Women Tech Council. “It is really about how we inspire these ... high school girls into STEM ... how we can help them become interested.” The main goal of the SheTech Conference is to allow girls and women to specifically become interested in STEM. Because less than 25 percent of the overall workforce in STEM fields is female, the women of the Women Tech Council decided that it was time to encourage teenage girls to become part of this career type. The sponsors of the Women Tech Council agreed, and thus a new movement was born. The SheTech Conference consists of workshops girls were able to attend, a keynote speaker and a “TechZone” where they were able to take part in STEM activities. During the conference, many of SheTech’s sponsors had booths in this section of the convention, including Ancestry.com, Vivint and Adobe. “Adobe has been involved with SheTech since they came to the valley about five years ago,” said Cindy Sanders, Adobe’s director of operations. “We have a booth where people can learn about Adobe and the potential opportunities there. Then, we also have one of the workshops where you can learn about our … product(s).” Along with Adobe’s different programs at the conference, Vivint also played a major role in the conference. At its booth, girls were able to observe STEM in everyday life. “Seeing that connectivity and light in person really makes it come to life and understand how it can be applicable in your everyday life,” said Lauren Probst, the company’s marketing manager, . SheTech’s main purpose is to inspire girls to pursue careers in STEM; however, the program has done much more than that. It brought girls together with STEM and proved to be an encouraging experience. “My favorite thing about SheTech was meeting different people from me, but learning that they were also as interested in having a career in the STEM field,” said Katie Vazquez, a student at South Summit High School. “SheTech was a wonderful experience for me.” Searching for new things to do? You don’t have to work this hard. Check out the calendar in Scene for local music, events and more! |