Congressman Merrill Cook tells Utah senators federal help needed for Olympics, Medicaid reimbursements and transport funding

U.S. Representative Merrill Cook visited the Utah Senate floor Feb. 26 to brief members on federal priorities and to press for coordinated state action on several issues affecting Utah.

Cook told senators the new Congress was focused on Social Security reform and health‑care changes, but that Utah must secure fair federal reimbursement rates for Medicare and Medicaid. "We're being penalized for our healthy population," he said, noting large disparities in reimbursement rates that, he argued, hamper Utah providers. Cook urged the delegation and the Legislature to press appropriators to turn authorizations into actual funding for highways, mass transit and airports that the state has sought.

On the Olympics, Cook said federal oversight will be important and that state and local leaders must present a united front to appropriators to translate authorizations into cash. He also addressed the tobacco settlement, saying he supports legislation to keep settlement funds at the state level and to bar federal claims on those proceeds.

Cook touched on national defense and missile defense research, and on tax reform: with a projected federal surplus he advocated returning funds to taxpayers and simplifying the tax code rather than growing federal programs.

Senators thanked Cook and asked questions on transportation and the tobacco settlement; Cook urged them to coordinate with metropolitan planning organizations and local officials to make Utah's funding case to appropriators.

Next steps: Cook’s recommendations emphasize intergovernmental coordination. Senators asked staff and delegation members to pursue reimbursement and appropriations strategies he outlined.