NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – The unity theme of Gov. Bill Haslam’s inauguration to second term as governor is already being put to the test by wrangling over his proposal to extend health coverage to 200,000 low-income Tennesseans.
Haslam won 70 percent of the vote in his re-election bid last November against nominal Democratic opposition, carrying all 95 counties in the process.
The motto of Haslam’s inauguration celebration is “Together for Tennessee,” and the governor has said his goals for the next four years include job creation, education and more efficiency in state government.
But the governor’s proposal to expand the state’s Medicaid program using money made available under President Barack Obama’s health care law has led to a good deal of turmoil among fellow Republicans in Legislature.