NASHVILLE – Gov. Bill Haslam’s plan to extend health coverage to low-income Tennesseans – the same plan he touted during a stop in Sparta last week – failed today during a special legislative session.
The Senate health and welfare committee defeated the Insure Tennessee plan Wednesday in a 7-4 vote. Senators voting against the measure included Janice Bowling (R-Tullahoma), Mike Bell (R-Riceville), Todd Gardenhire (R-Chattanooga), Frank Nicely (R-Sevierville), Brian Kelsey (R-Germantown), Kerry Roberts (R-Gallatin), and Rusty Crowe (R-Johnson City) Voting for the Medicaid expansion were Dr. Richard Briggs (R-Knoxville), Becky Massey (R-Knoxville), Ed Jackson (R-Jackson), and Jeff Yarbro (D-Nashville).
