Rep. Larry Miller is pictured in this file photo.NASHVILLE -- A House Democrat said today he believes most members on a key GOP-controlled subcommittee are willing to support Gov. Bill Haslam's Insure Tennessee plan and that an influential Republican has indicated he may sign on to the measure.
"My understanding is that a majority of the members are interested in advancing the resolution," Rep. Larry Miller, D-Memphis, told reporters at a news conference this afternoon.
Miller, who noted he has discussed the issue with Haslam, said he also has spoken with Rep. Mike Harrison, R-Rogersville, "about Mike possibly taking a leadership" role on the amendment, which is scheduled to come up Wednesday in the House Insurance and Banking Subcommittee.
The Senate version of the resolution, which failed in a February special session called by Haslam, is expected to come up before the Senate Commerce Committee later today. Several dozen supporters have shown up to advocate for the measure.
Sen. Jeff Yarbro, D-Nashville, said the number of bills the panel will consider is lengthy and the resolution is far down the list and the resolution may not get heard or have adequate time for testimony and consideration.
Even if the resolution fails, Yarbro said, it's "definitely not going to be the last day for Insure Tennessee," which is Haslam's effort to use federal dollars under the Affordable Care Act to extend Medicaid coverage to low-income Tennesseans.
"We haven't solved this problem in this state. We still hve 280,000 people who are needlessly uininsured. We still have hospitals at risk of closure. We have a billion dollars [in federal dollars] that could be going into Tennessee's economy and is not."
Miller, meanwhile, said he intends to press on Wednesday regardless of Senate Commerce Committee members' actions.