OREM, Utah (ABC 4 News) - Former Utah governor Michael Leavitt says while the healthcare debate continues, economic trouble could be ahead for the United States.
Leavitt, who also served as secretary of Health and Human Services in the George W. Bush Cabinet, spoke at Utah Valley University on Thursday during a healthcare reform conference.
Leavitt said while the debate over government's role in healthcare reform rages, the government should get involved in finding solutions as soon as possible.
"Those who say government shouldn't be involved are wrong in my view. Government has to be involved, but government ought to be using its power to organize an efficient market," said Leavitt, who added, "This is important because it is not only a humanitarian imperative, we're dealing now with an economic imperative. We have to solve this."
Leavitt went on to explain that entitlements will require U.S. Citizens to sacrifice more than 40 per cent of their wages and salaries within the next 18 years to pay for healthcare if government does not step in to manage the healthcare market.
Leavitt said similar healthcare problems in other countries has led to runaway inflation and economic collapse.
