82
nd LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT
CROCKETT, HAYWOOD & LAUDERDALE COUNTIES
135 S. ALPINE STREET
RIPLEY, TENNESSEE 38063 (731) 635-1230
33 LEGISLATIVE PLAZA
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE 37243-0182 (615) 741-2134
1-800-449-8366 EXT. 12134
[email protected]
House of Representatives State of Tennessee
CRAIG FITZHUGH
House Democratic Leader
FINANCE
EDUCATION ADMINISTRATION &
PLANNING
GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS
FINANCE SUB
CALENDAR AND RULES
JOINT PENSIONS AND INSURANCE
HOUSE RULES
April 23, 2015
The Honorable Bill Haslam
Governor
State Capitol Building
Nashville, Tennessee 37243
Dear Governor Haslam:
I am writing today to urge your continued action on Insure
Tennessee. As you are aware, the General Assembly has
concluded our normal business and adjourned. This is, in my
opinion, a great disservice to the people of Tennessee.
Legislators have gone home without taking action on the most
important issue we have faced in 20 years.
The heart of my district has already seen the hospital where I
was born close its doors. Just miles down the interstate,
another facility recently shut down in Fayette County. Between
the two shuttered medical buildings lies the Memphis
Area Regional Megasite. With your help, Governor, we have made
extraordinary progress to get this land ready for
industry. West Tennessees hopes for a resurgent economy and
brighter future are tied up in the success of this site. Without
action on Insure Tennessee, however, our hospitals have gone and
made it even more difficult to bring jobs to
our area.
To speak of the economy is to say nothing of the trouble faced
by regular people. All across Tennessee, there is a sense
of concern. Those with elderly parents are taking more time away
from work for doctor visits, as rural clinics prepare to
close satellite locations. Farmers worry that emergency room
closures mean a longer ride to the hospital, when minutes
count after an accident. Those who rely on public
transportation, already scarce in rural areas, wonder how they will
get
the medicine they need when medical centers retreat to the more
profitable urban areas.
As Governor, the people look to you for leadership. You are
empowered to call the General Assembly into session at any
time. Though the last extraordinary session was unsuccessful, I
maintain that this option is still a viable choice. If the
General Assembly once again refuses to take action or places
unnecessary hurdles before the bill to prevent passage, I
would urge another extraordinary session immediately upon the
firsts adjournment. If I were Governor, I would repeat this process
again and again until the General Assembly did the right thing and
passed Insure Tennessee.
We have a moral imperative to continue fighting for the 300,000
working men and women who have no health care.
There are 49 rural counties in our state waiting for action on
Insure Tennessee. Please do not let us become the
Forgotten 49. We need action now. I urge you, Governor, to keep
up the pressure and keep the General Assembly in session until we
get this right.
Sincerely,
Craig Fitzhugh
House Democratic Leader
