Tea Party Rally Puts Haslam in Hot Seat

Hundreds of protesters attended a rally outside the state capitol organized by tea party groups. Photo credit Blake Farmer/WPLN

Hundreds of Tea Party protesters rallied outside the state capitol Wednesday. One held a sign reading “Haslam-care.” They’re trying to dissuade Tennessee’s governor from setting up a state-based insurance exchange as envisioned in Obamacare.

Tracy Sneed of Nashville says Governor Bill Haslam should join nearly two-dozen other Republican governors and do what he can to obstruct Obamacare. Her future support hinges on his decision.

“If you’re asking me if it’s a deal breaker, yes it is.”

Amid the throngs were roughly a dozen GOP lawmakers.

Republican State Senator Bill Ketron of Murfreesboro says while he generally prefers state control, Washington should handle the exchanges, which determine what insurance policies to offer through a government-run website.

“Let the federal government do it. If it fails, that albatross is around their neck, not ours.”

The governor has said there could be an advantage to the state running things and that the cost will likely be no different. But he has said it will still be a week before he makes a call. The deadline is December 14th.