Health care compact bill fails to pass Tennessee House subcommittee

photo An exterior view of the Tennessee State Capitol building.
Arkansas-Tennessee Live Blog

NASHVILLE - A controversial bill enabling Tennessee to join a multistate "health care compact" and possibly gain control of federal programs like Medicaire failed in a House subcommittee this morning on a tie vote.

House Insurance and Banking Committee members voted 9-9 on the measure, sponsored by Rep. Mark Pody, R-Lebanon.

During discussions, Rep. JoAnne Favors, D-Chattanooga, and other Democrats criticized the bill. But several of Pody's fellow Republicans had questions and voiced concerns as to how the compact would operate and what control Tennessee would have.

The bill would have allowed Tennessee to join a group of states seeking to petition Congress for permission to take over most federal health care programs in their states. Critics say it is unlikely Congress would go along.

For complete details, see tomorrow's Chattanooga Times Free Press.

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