Rally Today to Keep Insure Tennessee Alive

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – A coalition supporting Republican Gov. Bill Haslam’s proposal to extend health coverage to 280,000 low-income Tennesseans is planning a rally at the state Capitol on Monday.

The group is comprised of clergy, students and community groups.

Haslam’s original Insure Tennessee proposal failed in a special legislative session last month, but has been revived by a Democratic lawmaker in the Senate.

The resolution sponsored by freshman Sen. Jeff Yarbro of Nashville was approved by the Senate Health Committee on a 6-2 vote last week, but faces tough prospects at its next stop in the Senate Commerce Committee.

Haslam recently told reporters that he’s willing to risk a second defeat of his proposal to highlight the need for improving health standards in the state.