NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – Republican leaders in the state House and Senate are at odds about who should go first on taking up Republican Gov. Bill Haslam’s proposal to extend health coverage to more than 200,000 low-income Tennesseans.
The governor has called a special session starting Feb. 2 to consider the proposal that many Republicans are wary of because it would tap federal money available under President Barack Obama’s health care law.
House Majority Leader Gerald McCormick of Chattanooga announced at the start of Friday’s floor session that he wanted to dispel what he called a “silly notion” among Senate Republicans that they would wait for the measure to clear several committees in lower chamber before taking up measure. That would put House Republicans in the position of having to cast politically difficult votes before their Senate colleagues.
“That will not happen,” McCormick said.
Senate Speaker Ron Ramsey, R-Blountville, told reporters that he has long held the position that the Senate shouldn’t get involved in the measure until it gains traction in the House.