State says last TennCare protesters have left Capitol

The protesters, working in shifts, stayed in the building for about 77 days to demonstrate against Gov. Phil Bredesen’s proposed cuts to the state health insurance program. No arrests or disruptions have been reported.

Members of two of the organizations involved in the protest, the Tennessee Justice Center in Nashville and the Memphis chapter of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, were not available for comment Monday evening.

There was no formal agreement between protesters and state officials to cease the vigil, said Melissa McDonald, spokeswoman for the Safety Department.

It was not clear Monday if the protesters planned to return to the capitol on Tuesday, McDonald said. If they do, the department has decided that they will only be allowed to stay in the building during business hours.

Bredesen has said he’s cutting about 190,000 adults from TennCare and reducing benefits for thousands of others because the state cannot afford the $8.7 billion program in its current form.

Bredesen met and discussed the cuts with several of the protesters, including one weekend meeting when he brought them fast-food lunches.

But the expense of having state troopers on duty to watch them was adding up.

“In this time of national crisis, we’re thankful that state troopers can now resume their regular duties,” said Col. Lynn Pitts, commander of the Tennessee Highway Patrol, according to a release from the department.

He said the troopers are also needed across the state to help emergency officials dealing with refugees from Hurricane Katrina.