Congresswoman Love tells Utah Senate federal rules limit state flexibility; urges REINS, health portability

Congresswoman Love addressed the Utah State Senate in a Committee of the Whole, arguing that federal regulations have grown far beyond statutes and that returning certain rulemaking authority to Congress and the states would improve accountability.

She told senators the volume of federal regulations outpaces statutes, and that ‘‘All airspace belongs to them, so that they control all of that,’’ describing how federal control over airspace can limit state or private innovation such as commercial drone deliveries. She urged state legislators to press for more local control over education standards and to consider measures that would prevent federal grants or waivers from dictating state curriculum choices.

On health policy, Love said she has cosponsored bills to repeal parts of the Affordable Care Act and to allow insurance portability across state lines. She related a constituent letter about a $10,000 out‑of‑pocket deductible that made a family rethink having a second child and said the experience showed the need for more affordable, flexible options.

She described the REINS Act as an accountability reform that would require major federal rules — those the Office of Management and Budget deems to have significant economic impact — to be approved by both houses of Congress and be signed by the president before taking effect. ‘‘This is one of those reforms that’s not distinctively Republican or Democratic,’’ she said, framing it as an institutional fix to transfer accountability back to elected lawmakers.

Senators pressed her on state impacts. Senator Henderson asked about the Medicaid ‘‘donut hole’’ of residents who qualify for neither Medicaid nor subsidies; Love said giving states more flexibility could help and that governors with more control could manage programs more efficiently. On emergency‑room use, senators detailed concerns about federal emergency treatment rules that require hospitals to treat patients regardless of ability to pay; Love said she would look into the executive‑order and regulatory history cited by senators.

The congresswoman also discussed national security and said she supported the White House request for congressional authorization of military force against ISIS, adding she ‘‘applaud[ed] the president for recognizing that it’s time to get such an authorization.’’

The Committee of the Whole concluded after senators thanked Love for appearing and invited continued contact about federal‑state policy questions. The Senate then returned to its third‑reading calendar.