Activists, who want the state Legislature to expand Medicaid benefits to Tennesseans who lack health coverage, have turned up the heat on House Speaker Beth Harwell.
About 20 billboards went live around the state Monday asking Harwell to help pass Insure Tennessee, the governor's Medicaid expansion plan.
"This is such a key piece of legislation for our state," Sally Smallwood said.
Smallwood and another supporter first created the billboard in February. Supporters of the plan reached out, asking how they can go about getting a billboard.
"The response was great, but it wasn't from our legislators," said Smallwood. "It was from people across the state who said, "We want billboards.'"
Activists had already paid for about three billboards in Nashville but decided to take the campaign statewide because they want Harwell, a Nashville Republican, to bring a full vote to the House floor. Organizers said they have 20 billboards in 13 cities. Most of the billboards were fully funded from supporters.
Republican lawmakers have rejected Haslam's Medicaid expansion plan amid fears that it was too closely linked to President Barack Obama's signature health care law. The proposal would cover about 280,000 Tennesseans who currently lack insurance.
Harwell's office said she cannot bring the healthcare vote back after it was defeated. Monday afternoon, she sent the following statement to News Channel 5.
“I always welcome hearing the opinions from people across this state on an issue that is important to them. However, Governor Haslam decided earlier this year not to pursue the implementation of Insure Tennessee. As Speaker, I cannot unilaterally bring it to a vote. All bills go through the committee process, and this has failed to receive the support needed to advance.
At the end of session last year, I began to have discussions with members of the House and the Administration on creative elements that could garner widespread support. These elements reflect not only a desire to assist, but also to enhance, the effectiveness of our current TennCare program. I’m confident we will reach a solution and have an announcement by mid-April.”
