6 of 7 who killed Insure Tennessee are on state health plan

Six of the seven Republican senators who voted to kill Gov. Bill Haslam's proposal to extend health coverage to 280,000 low-income Tennesseans are enrolled in the state government health plan.

The state-insured senators include Sen. Todd Gardenhire of Chattanooga, according to records obtained by The Associated Press under state open records laws. During a committee debate, Gardenhire had declared that he uses private insurance.

The Senate Health Committee voted 7-4 on Wednesday to defeat Haslam's Insure Tennessee proposal that Haslam said would have brought $2.8 billion in federal money into the state at no costs to the taxpayer.

During the debate, newly-elected Sen. Jeff Yarbro, D-Nashville, suggested that lawmakers receiving government subsidies for their insurance should be more receptive to the governor's proposal to insure poor Tennesseans.

"Virtually every member of the Tennessee General Assembly receives some form of tax-subsidized health care," Yarbro said. "And before we make the decision to do nothing, I just think any members who are opposed or have doubts about this would offer some type of suggestion about what the governor's plan should be."

Those comments led to a rebuke from Gardenhire, who took to the microphone to declare that he was getting "resentful" of Yarbro's claims.

"I have very nice health care provided to me through my private employer," he said. "My wife's on Social Security."

When Yarbro tried to explain, Gardenhire cut him off. "I know you're new, but you need learn to respect us," he said.

Gardenhire on Thursday acknowledged that he is covered by the state insurance plan, but insisted he doesn't use it.

"I have it, but I don't use it. I use Morgan Stanley's insurance, which is far greater," Gardenhire said in a phone interview. "So I guess what I'm doing is subsidizing everybody else."

Gardenhire, who is halfway through his first four-year term in the Senate, said he was under the mistaken impression that he was required to be part of the state plan.

"When I signed up, everybody said, 'Here, sign these papers,' so I said OK," Gardenhire said. "I'm going to cancel it."

The Chattanooga Times Free Press reported Monday that 88 of the 99 House members and 28 of the 33 senators are on the state employee health plan, even though they are not considered full-time state employees. The state's taxpayers pay 80 percent their premiums.

The other senators voting against the measure who have state insurance were Frank Niceley of Strawberry Plains, Mike Bell of Riceville, Joey Hensley of Hohenwald, Brian Kelsey of Germantown, Rusty Crowe of Johnson City and Kerry Roberts of Springfield. All are Republicans.

Sen. Janice Bowling, R-Tullahoma, also voted against the measure, but does not have state insurance.

Other legislative leaders who have opted to enroll in the state health insurance plan include the Republican speakers of both chambers, Rep. Beth Harwell of Nashville and Sen. Ron Ramsey of Blountville.

State lawmakers enrolled in Tenn. health plan

Among Tennessee 132 state lawmakers, 116 carry state health coverage, including 88 of 99 House members and 28 of 33 Senate members. Twenty-three are Democrats and 93 are Republicans. Supporters of Republican Gov. Bill Haslam's failed proposal to extend coverage to 280,000 low-income Tennesseans argued that lawmakers with state coverage should have been more sympathetic to the plan. A list of state lawmakers enrolled in the state health plan:

HOUSE

Rep. Raumesh Akbari, D-Memphis

Rep. David Alexander, R-Winchester

Rep. Joe Armstrong, D-Knoxville

Rep. Bill Beck, D-Nashville

Rep. Kevin Brooks, R-Cleveland

Rep. Harry Brooks, R-Knoxville

Rep. Sheila Butt, R-Columbia

Rep. Karen Camper, D-Memphis

Rep. Dale Carr, R-Sevierville

Rep. Mike Carter, R-Chattanooga

Rep. Glen Casada, R-Franklin

Rep. John Ray Clemmons, D-Nashville

Rep. Jim Coley, R-Memphis

Rep. Barbara Cooper, R-Memphis

Rep. Martin Daniel, R-Knoxville

Rep. John Deberry, D-Memphis

Rep. Barry Doss, R-Leoma

Rep. Kevin Dunlap, D-McMinnville

Rep. Bill Dunn, R-Knoxville

Rep. Jeremy Durham, R-Franklin

Rep. Jimmy Eldridge, R-Jackson

Rep. Jeremy Faison, R-Cosby

Rep. Andrew Farmer, R-Sevierville

Rep. Joanne Favors, D-Chattanooga

Rep. Craig Fitzhugh, D-Ripley

Rep. John Forgety, R-Athens

Rep. Tilman Goins, R-Morristown

Rep. Curtis Halford, R-Dyer

Rep. GA Hardaway, R-Memphis

Rep. Mike Harrison, R-Rogersville

Rep. Beth Harwell, R-Nashville

Rep. David Hawk, R-Greeneville

Rep. Ryan Haynes, R-Knoxville

Rep. Patsy Hazlewood, R-Chattanooga

Rep. Matthew Hill, R-Jonesborough

Rep. Timothy Hill, R-Blountville

Rep. John Holsclaw, R-Johnson City

Rep. Andy Holt, R-Dresden

Rep. Dan Howell, R-Cleveland

Rep. Curtis Johnson, R-Clarksville

Rep. Sherry Jones, D-Nashville

Rep. Roger Kane, R-Knoxville

Rep. Kelly Keisling, R-Byrdstown

Rep. Sami Kumar, R-Springfield

Rep. William Lamberth, R-Gallatin

Rep. Mary Littleton, R-Dickson

Rep. Ronald Lollar, R-Bartlett

Rep. Harold Love, D-Nashville

Rep. Jon Lundberg, R-Bristol

Rep. Susan Lynn, R-Mt. Juliet

Rep. Pat Marsh, R-Shelbyville

Rep. Judd Matheny, R-Tullahoma

Rep. Jimmy Matlock, R-Lenoir City

Rep. Gerald McCormick, R-Chattanooga

Rep. Steve McDaniel, R-Parkers Crossroads

Rep. Steve McManus, R-Memphis

Rep. Larry Miller, D-Memphis

Rep. Bo Mitchell, D-Nashville

Rep. Joe Pitts, D-Clarksville

Rep. Mark Pody, R-Lebanon

Rep. Jason Powell, D-Nashville

Rep. Dennis Powers, R-Jacksboro

Rep. Bob Ramsey, R-Maryville

Rep. Jay Reedy, R-Erin

Rep. Courtney Rogers, R-Goodlettsville

Rep. Bill Sanderson, R-Kenton

Rep. Charles Sargent, R-Franklin

Rep. Cameron Sexton, R-Crossville

Rep. Jerry Sexton, R-Morristown

Rep. Johnny Shaw, R-Bolivar

Rep. David Shepard, D-Dickson

Rep. Eddie Smith, R-Knoxville

Rep. Mike Sparks, R-Smyrna

Rep. Billy Spivey, R-Lewisburg

Rep. Mike Stewart, D-Nashville

Rep. Art Swann, R-Maryville

Rep. Curry Todd, R-Collierville

Rep. Joe Towns, D-Memphis

Rep. Ron Travis, R-Dayton

Rep. James "Micah" Van Huss, R-Jonesborough

Rep. Terri Lynn Weaver, R-Lancaster

Rep. Mark White, R-Memphis

Rep. Gloria White, R-Murfreesboro

Rep. Leigh Wilburn, R-Somerville

Rep. Ryan Williams, R-Cookeville

Rep. John Windle, D-Livingston

Rep. Tim Wirgau, R-Buchanan

Rep. Rick Womick, R-Murfreesboro

SENATE

Sen. Paul Bailey, R-Sparta

Sen. Mae Beavers, R-Mt. Juliet

Sen. Mike Bell, R-Riceville

Sen. Rusty Crowe, R-Johnson City

Sen. Steven Dickerson, R-Nashville

Sen. Todd Gardenhire, R-Chattanooga

Sen. Mark Green, R-Clarksville

Sen. Ferrell Haile, R-Gallatin

Sen. Thelma Harper, D-Nashville

Sen. Joey Hensley, R-Hohenwald

Sen. Ed Jackson, R-Jackson

Sen. Jack Johnson, R-Franklin

Sen. Brian Kelsey, R-Germantown

Sen. Sara Kyle, D-Memphis

Sen. Becky Duncan Massey, R-Knoxville

Sen. Randy McNally, R-Oak Ridge

Sen. Frank Niceley, R-Strawberry Plains

Sen. Mark Norris, R-Collierville

Sen. Doug Overbey, R-Maryville

Sen. Ron Ramsey, R-Blountville

Sen. Kerry Roberts, R-Springfield

Sen. Steve Southerland, R-Morristown

Sen. John Stevens, R-Huntingdon

Sen. Reginald Tate, D-Memphis

Sen. Jim Tracy, R-Shelbyville

Sen. Bo Watson, R-Chattanooga

Sen. Ken Yager, R-Kingston

Sen. Jeff Yarbro, D-Nashville

Source: State of Tennessee