Clergy to Legislature: WWJD on Medicaid Expansion?

Clergy members delivered 133 baskets with real loaves of bread but fake fish. Photo credit Blake Farmer/WPLN

Would Jesus expand Tennessee’s Medicaid program? That’s the question a left-leaning clergy group is asking the General Assembly, and they believe the answer is yes.

Pastors and priests delivered baskets of bread loaves and (paper) fish to each legislator on Monday. The attempted biblical parallel is to the miracle of feeding the 5,000.

The federal money to expand Medicaid would be akin to the original five loaves and two fish. Lawmakers would play the apostles, who distributed the food that fed everyone and then some.

“I believe many of these people are faithful Christian folks, and being reminded of stories just might help,” said Michael Williams of West End United Methodist Church.

Republican legislators have been trying to block the expansion of Medicaid to cover roughly 180,000 Tennesseans.

Governor Bill Haslam hasn’t exactly said no, or yes, to the expansion. And he says he happens to agree with the clergy.

“That’s a pretty clear command to have concern for the ‘least of these,’” Haslam said. “But we also have a responsibility to make sure that’s something that’s affordable for the state, not just now but 10 years from now.”

“Conversations” are ongoing with federal health officials, Haslam said. He’s trying to work out a compromise that would allow Tennessee to take the federal money but not require the state to spend any of its own money down the road.

Some of the religious advocates see that as a political answer.

“Governor Haslam is playing to his audience,” said Ann Lucas, a member of St. Stephen Catholic Community. “Why else would you not want to take care of your own citizens? It’s just unconscionable to me.”