Governor Bill Lee visited Tennessee State University with social justice advocate William Barber to speak to an audience about Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy.
One of the speech’s topics was health care for all Tennesseans, about which Lee remained seated in the audience and decided not to answer Barber’s invitation to support.
Lee’s actions resulted in a fiery response from Barber, who said, “Politicians can’t say they love Dr. King and how he stood for love and unity, but then you deny and refuse to support his agenda.”
Lee has previously stated he wanted states to work with the federal government to obtain block grants rather than expanding Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act.
The Affordable Care Act has three main goals: make affordable health insurance available to more people, expand the Medicaid program to cover all adults with income below 138 percent of the federal poverty level and support innovative medical care delivery. Expansion of Medicaid would equate to about $34,638 for a family of four.
Lee said he wants to work with the administration to address the rising costs of the TennCare program. He also said expanding a government program without addressing prices is not the right approach for the state.
Otis Sanford, a UofM journalism professor and a political commentator, said he thinks Lee made a hasty decision and the state continues to go in the wrong direction.
“Governor Lee’s decision to not support Medicaid expansion was quick,” Sanford said. “He looked at it from a business perspective, being that he is a former businessman, but he didn’t view it from the standpoint of those who are in poverty. Tennessee is still taking steps backwards and not forward with this issue.”
Some citizens of Tennessee think that Lee’s views should be focused on helping those that are in need.
Amelia Bullard, president of the Black Student Association, said she thinks Lee is dismissing the issue for the people.
“He is trying to further dismiss it until he figures out what the best plan for Tennessee Medicaid or Medicare might be,” Bullard said. “He probably doesn’t know how to address the health care shortage in Tennessee yet because they don’t have coverage, period.”
Barber questioned how politicians can support MLK’s vision yet do nothing and ignore those steps to make that vision come true. Lee has a choice to help those in poverty or keep his stance and continue facing backlash.
