NASHVILLE -- The special session for Republican Gov. Bill Haslam's Insure Tennessee plan doesn't begin until Feb. 2. Despite that, it's already off to a rollicking start as top House and Senate GOP leaders began quarreling Friday over which chamber first takes up the proposal.
Among Republicans, who dominate both chambers with super majorities, the immediate issue on Friday was Republican Senate Speaker Ron Ramsey's insistence on making House committees and then the entire chamber vote first on approving Haslam's joint resolution before the Senate proceeds.
It takes both chambers to give Haslam the OK to move ahead. House Majority Leader Gerald McCormick, R-Chattanooga, denounced the Senate plan as a "silly notion" that he won't subject his House GOP colleagues to.
Speaking later to reporters, Haslam sought to downplay the flap.
"I think they will work it out," he said. "I mean, the people of Tennessee want this to be heard. They don't want some procedural issue to stop this from being heard. Again, I'm confident that leadership will figure out a way to do that."
Meanwhile, there was still more thunder on another front for the governor's "market driven" plan to use federal Medicaid dollars to extend health coverage to 200,000 Tennesseans.
House Minority Leader Craig Fitzhugh, D-Ripley, whose 26-member caucus's support is considered crucial by Haslam himself to winning approval, said Democrats need more details before all can back the governor's plan.
"I don't think we're quite there yet," said Fitzhugh, who noted he has his own questions. "If we were voting today, we'd have about 10 members" voting yes, he said.
All in all, not a good day for Haslam, who will be sworn into office today in Nashville for his second and final four-year term.
Among a number of Republicans there is already opposition or apprehension about the plan. It would provide the coverage with federal funds courtesy of President Barack Obama's Affordable Care Act, referred to by most Republicans as Obamacare.
The immediate issue on Friday was Republican Senate Speaker Ron Ramsey's insistence on making the House vote first on approving Haslam's joint resolution authorizing him to proceed.
That position was first revealed publicly Thursday by Senate Majority Leader Mark Norris, R-Collerville, in a Senate GOP Caucus meeting.
On Friday morning Norris' remarks drew the stinging rebuke from the House floor by McCormick.
"Preposterous is a good word," McCormick later told reporters. "I read the press reports this morning that they're suggesting we [House] go all the way through our process and send them a House joint resolution for their consideration.
"It's just silly," McCormick added. "We won't do that. I'm not going to put my members on the spot like that. If they [senators] don't want to do it, they just need to tell us and we'll go about our business and go into regular session. But we're not going to go through an exercise in futility."
Each chamber should have its own resolution and proceed simultaneously, said McCormick, who noted that was the understanding.
Ramsey later told reporters there's "some irony" in McCormick's criticisms "because I've been very upfront about this with the governor and everybody else that that's what should happen."
Ramsey said that oftentimes when the Senate proceeds first on a proposal, House members complain senators "are cramming everything down our throats."
"This is one of those issues that I feel like the House needs to go first. I've been adamant about that," Ramsey said. "I've talked to the governor. I talked to [Haslam chief of staff] Mark Cate and others. That's where I am."
Some Republican senators think the program announced by Haslam, a Republican, is already in trouble in the House.
"I want to make sure it passes in the House before we take it up," Ramsey noted.
Asked about reports from some lawmakers and staffers that the proposal is in trouble in the Senate, Ramsey said, "there are a lot of questions to be asked in both chambers. You're exactly right."
Harwell was asked about the flap on her way to a legislative event in which lawmakers, legislative staff and most of Haslam's Cabinet joined in putting together thousands of food packages for the needy.
"Misery loves company -- no, I'm just kidding," Harwell said. "Well, I think I'm going to see the lieutenant governor on my way over here."
Haslam, who was also at the event, told reporters he recalled things differently from Ramsey.
"It's always been our understanding that the effort would proceed simultaneously" in the House and Senate, Haslam said.
Asked later whether things had been resolved, Harwell said, "No, I don't think we have that resolved. There's no question between the lieutenant governor [Ramsey] and I. I just feel like my body feels they're more comfortable that there are two resolutions and we're working together at the same time."
Lawmakers are in the position due to a law passed last year by Sen. Brian Kelsey, R-Germantown, an opponent of the Medicaid expansion. His "Stop Obamacare Act" requires lawmakers to approve a resolution for Haslam to proceed.
Meanwhile, Fitzhugh said members of his caucus are concerned about aspects of Haslam's two-track plan. One would give vouchers to low-income workers with which they can purchase their way onto employers' plans.
"There's still a bit of vagueness ... about the cost-sharing," Fitzhugh said.
Recognizing he will have problems persuading all of his fellow Republicans to give him a green light, Haslam recently said he is counting on all the Democrats for support.
There are 26 Democrats in the 99-member House and five in the 33-member Senate.
Contact staff writer Andy Sher at asher@timesfreepress.com or 615-255-0550.