NASHVILLE -- State House Minority Leader Craig Fitzhugh says the "overwhelming majority" of Democrats in the chamber are "prepared to support" Republican Gov. Bill Haslam's proposal to use federal Medicaid dollars to extend health insurance coverage to an estimated 280,000 low-income Tennesseans.
"It is not perfect; our members have many questions, but the time has come for Tennessee to address this issue once and for all," Fitzhugh said of Haslam's Insure Tennessee proposal in a statement.
A few Democrats from rural areas are said to be wary of voting for the plan, fearful of retribution from voters in their conservative districts. Democrats have 26 members in the 99-member House. All five Senate Democrats in the 33-member upper chamber are expected to back it.
The Republican-dominated General Assembly will convene Monday in a special session called by Haslam to consider the resolution allowing the governor to seek a federal "waiver" of Medicaid rules.
If he wins approval there, Haslam will seek the OK from federal officials to proceed with what he calls his conservative, "market-driven" take on Medicaid expansion allowed under the federal Affordable Care Act.
"Insure Tennessee is not traditional Medicaid expansion. This approach is much less generous in terms of coverage and benefits than House Democrats would prefer, but we understand the numbers," Fitzhugh said. "While members of both parties still have concerns, we feel strongly that they can be alleviated by giving this legislation a full and fair hearing."
A number of Republicans are worried as well, but Haslam has said he needs to have the support of all Democrats and enough Republicans to win approval.