Feb. 4, in the Tennessee General Assembly Senate Health & Welfare Committee, Todd Gardenhire , a Republican senator assigned to this committee only for the extraordinary session, voted against the joint resolution that would implemented the governor’s Insure Tennessee plan to provide health insurance coverage to well over 280,000 hard working Tennesseans. With Gardenhire’s vote the bill suffered an untimely death, a fate which may await some of his constituents here in Hamilton County who still lack access to affordable healthcare.
There are nearly 19,000 people in Hamilton County who fall within the Medicaid coverage gap and cannot receive preventive or necessary care. In addition to denying these people access to health insurance, Gardenhire’s action has put two hospitals here at risk of closing. For those in living in rural areas far away from large medical facilities, this could mean the difference between life and death.
How is it that Todd Gardenhire could turn his back on the people of his district? It seems as though the senator has elected to put partisan loyalty over the well-being of his constituents. An allegiance to extreme right-wing rhetoric has trumped an obligation to promote citizens’ general welfare. And if Gardenhire and the other senators who opposed this bill are truly dedicated to their constituents, why have they failed to come up with any viable solution to a problem that is still very real and very life threatening to many Tennesseans?
Fortunately, Senator Gardenhire will get a chance to redeem himself. Last week, a bill was introduced by Rep. Mike Stewart and Senator Jeff Yarbro that will allow the legislature another opportunity to pass the governor’s Insure Tennessee plan and provide critical health care to over a quarter of a million Tennesseans. Let’s hope for their sake that Senator Gardenhire takes the time to reflect on why he was elected to serve and that this time he puts people before partisan politics.
Terry Lee