It's not about "lifestyle" choice. It's about lifestyle choice.
But the two are not easily distinguished, as lawmakers illustrated during Monday's discussion of amendments to Utah's Health Policy Commission rules.A bill, proposed by Sen. Howard Stephenson, R-Draper, allows the commission to consider lifestyle choices as part of a review of health insurance premiums.
The bill received House approval and now goes to Gov. Mike Leavitt.
Stephenson, an advocate for anti-gay-club legislation, has said he didn't intend to target gays, but he doesn't think it's fair for all Utahns to subsidize those with bad habits.
Rep. Bryan Harward, R-Provo, sponsor of the bill in the House, said smoking, drug use and drinking would be covered in the review.
"It's an insurance issue as well as a moral issue as to whether that should be done," Harward said.
"Why are you drawing the conclusion that a single-sex partnership is a dangerous one?" said Rep. Jordan Tanner, R-Provo.
Harward said he was not drawing that conclusion. Tanner said the amendment should be made more specific.