Cox says he’s heavily involved in the discussions between the governor’s office and the legislature over expanding Medicaid.
“The Governor asked me to focus on two major areas this session,” says Cox. “Those are Medicaid and education. The talks we’re having are productive, but the possible outcomes we’re facing cover a wide gap.”
Cox also says he’s hopeful the two sides can come to some sort of resolution before the 2014 session ends.
“Usually you can see where these things are going. I honestly don’t know where we will end up on this. I hope we can find some middle ground.”
Cox was one of the first lawmakers to call for former Attorney General John Swallow to step down from office. He says he’s satisfied with the reforms legislators are considering this session in the wake of the scandal.
“I am very comfortable with the direction they are going,” he says. “I don’t think this is the end of the reforms. There will be more changes coming over the interim, and I’m excited to see where this is going.”
Cox says he’s he’s a supporter of the caucus/convention system, and he’s very concerned about what moving to a direct primary would do to politics in Utah.
“Clearly there are some problems with the caucus system,” he says. “But I worry that moving to a direct primary would create ‘flyover counties’ in Utah. Right now we get governors and U.S. Senators who come to Fairview to meet with 3 delegates. In a direct primary it’s not rational for those candidates to do that as their time is better spent elsewhere.”
Cox says the biggest difference between being a part-time legislator and a full-time member of the executive branch is the amount and volume of work.
He also takes a good-natured shot at his former colleagues.
“I went from thinking most of the 104 people in the Legislature were brilliant, and now I know that none of them know what they’re doing,” he says with a laugh.
“I used to be worried about my bills and legislation, and now I’m worried about 1,200 possible bills and what they’ll do for the state.”