Haslam Appeals To Faith in Final Insure Tennessee Pitch

Gov. Bill Haslam urged lawmakers to consider their religious faith as they make up their minds about his Insure Tennessee proposal to expand Medicaid.

Haslam referred to the parable of the Good Samaritan to explain why he developed Insure Tennessee, his proposal to extend health coverage to 280,000 more Tennesseans.

“My faith doesn’t allow me to walk on the other side of the road and ignore a need that can be met, particularly in this case, when the need is Tennesseans who have life-threatening situations without access to medical care,” Haslam said to a joint session of the General Assembly Monday night.
The governor didn’t appear to change many minds, however. Though Democrats support the proposal, only a handful of Republicans have committed to vote for it.

The reference to the Gospel wasn’t lost on lawmakers. But several, like Sen. Kerry Roberts (R-Springfield), said their obligation is to constituents.

“That’s in the Bible, not the Constitution,” he said of the Good Samaritan. “It’s not a political mandate.”

Many GOP lawmakers say they’re concerned about the financial impact on the state, even though hospitals and the federal government have committed to cover the full cost of expansion.

Democrats are mostly on board with the proposal, although some would like it to go farther.

“This isn’t the plan we would have proposed, most likely,” Sen. Jeff Yarbro (D-Nashville) said. “But I do think it’s a common sense solution that leads to more people being covered, to fewer hospitals closing, keeping more jobs in the state.”

Asked if the governor’s speech had moved Insure Tennessee any closer to passage, Rep. Glen Casada (R-Franklin) said no.

“You know, as I walked through the hallways, the members were getting up and leaving,” he said. “I didn’t hear one single member say, ‘Wow, I’ve changed my mind.'”

Lawmakers return Tuesday for a series of hearings. Legislative leaders say they’ll decide Wednesday whether to push forward with the plan.