Bredesen opposes special session for TennCare

The Democratic governor said in a letter to legislators this week that he fears such a forum would lead to a debate over new taxes to bolster TennCare. The governor has promised not to seek a state income tax if re-elected.

The Bredesen administration is making cuts in TennCare benefits and disenrolling about 190,000 people from the statewide health care program.

“Tennesseans expect us to manage this program with existing revenue,” Bredesen wrote. “There is no question that by asking for a TennCare special session, you are committing yourselves — and the entire General Assembly — to a divisive debate about a new tax on Tennesseans.”

Accompanying the letter is a briefing document that seeks to refute a “great deal of misinformation” being spread by the Tennessee Health Care Campaign, a coalition of advocacy groups, to push for a special session.0

The governor’s document said any suggestions by TennCare advocates to save money is already being implemented. “The only credible reason the protest groups are putting forth (for a special session) is a call for new taxes — an income tax, a provider tax or other taxes — to fund TennCare.”

Saying a special session on TennCare is “both unnecessary and ill-conceived,” Bredesen urged legislators to “be strong and not do anything that further ties our hands in dealing with this critical issue.”

Sen. Raymond Finney, R-Maryville, recently wrote colleagues that a TennCare session might be worthwhile “to be sure that every stone has been turned.” The Tennessee Health Care Campaign lists 27 legislators on its Web site that agree.

“If there is a way to take a fresh look and make some adjustments here and there, then we need to look at those options,” Finney said.

The governor has said he may call a special session, perhaps in January, for the General Assembly to tackle ethics reforms in the wake of the “Tennessee Waltz” corruption scandal.