Login | Create New Account | Facebook | Twitter
Homes | Jobs | Wheels | Worship | IShopTheTri | Move To Kingsport | Kingsport Chamber of Commerce
Print
Bredesen on list as candidate for HHS secretary
KINGSPORT — After former U.S. Senate Democratic Leader Tom Daschle withdrew his nomination to become President Obama’s choice for Health and Human Services (HHS) secretary, Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen began appearing on a list of possible nominees for the job. “No one has contacted me about it. I love my job here. If somebody calls me, I’ll talk to them,” Bredesen, a Democrat, said of the HHS post after addressing a Kingsport Chamber of Commerce luncheon on Wednesday. Bredesen, once a health maintenance organization owner, joked about the possibility of being considered for the HHS job at the outset of the luncheon. Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey, a Blountville Republican, had flown to Northeast Tennessee with Bredesen for the event. If Bredesen got the HHS job, Ramsey would be the first in line to become governor. “Ron Ramsey has been really kind reaching across party lines every time a job opens up in Washington,” Bredesen told the luncheon. “He’s right on the phone. He calls and says nice things about me.” In an e-mail sent out on Wednesday, the executive director of a state health care advocacy group attempted to organize support against Bredesen heading up HHS. Tony Garr of the Tennessee Health Care Campaign, a TennCare advocate, said in the e-mail: “Since July 2005, the governor cut, cut and cut TennCare (the state’s Medicaid program). More than 250,000 low-income working adults lost their health insurance. The safety net that was there which helped some is now gone. ... Tennesseans died because of these cuts. He acted like the CEO of the managed care company where he made his millions and protected his bottom line. Governor Bredesen is the wrong choice for this country. We need leadership to expand (health care) coverage. Governor Bredesen does not know how to do this.” Daschle, who withdrew his nomination after disclosing that he had failed to pay taxes to the Internal Revenue Service, was billed as someone who could help Obama enact health care reform. Bredesen indicated the opportunity for reform is still there. “What Daschle was providing was political clout in the Congress to get some stuff done,” Bredesen told reporters. “I’m not sure they don’t need to try to find a more bipartisan way to do it. ... If we have health care reform, I want it to last a long time. I think for that to happen, you really have to have Republicans and Democrats on board ... and not just ram through a Democratic proposal.”
To comment, you must register.
Comments are the sole responsibility of the registered user participating in online discussions. You agree not to post comments off topic, abusive, obscene, defamatory, vulgar, threatening or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be banned.
- Teacher aide on leave over allegations of improper relationship with student; Teacher accused of having sex with student
- Abingdon woman killed when street racer crashes into her car
- Rain today, snow tonight and Wednesday
- Internet rape case flags dangers of Internet anonymity
- Tenn. officials address child sexual abuse report
- UFOs come to ETSU
- Tenn. lawmakers override veto on menu labeling
- Nearly 20-year sentence given in Johnson City child porn case
- Installation of Johnson City red light cameras not speedy process
- Blue Devils, Lady Knights turn tables
Most Popular News
Today | Week | Month | Year
Featured Blogger
2009 Good Year for Civil War Preservation in Virginia.
By Ned Jilton - 1-11-2010
2009 turned out to be a good year in Civil War preservation in Virginia thanks to many state and local organizations teaming up with the Civil War Pre...- Shows for kids aren’t child-friendly
- Elizabethton police dog euthanized after being stabbed by boys
- Pizza delivery driver faces DUI, drug possession charges after hitting parked cars
- Fugitive crashes during police chase in Kingsport
- Police identify man killed in Sullivan Gardens crash
- East Tennessee teacher suspended after allegations of student relationship
- Tenn. officials address child sexual abuse report
- In latest blow, Toyota recalls 437,000 Prius and other hybrids globally for brake problems
- Abingdon woman killed when street racer crashes into her car
Most Discussed
Today | Week | Month | Year
topjobs
Browse Premiere Local Businesses
Home | Login | Local News | Obits | Sports | Business | Opinions | Blogs | Classifieds| Business Profiles
Web Feeds/RSS | Contact Us | Customer Service | Privacy Statement | Common Questions | E-Edition | Subscriptions | Site Map
© 2010 Kingsport Publishing Corporation - Innovation by Times Digital Group
Rove didn't have to testify under executive privilege.
I know what Governor Bredesen and the state of Tennessee deem, defend and support as "the acceptable standards of health care" in East Tennessee. http://www.wisecountyissues.com
We need a cure for health care in America, Profit Care comes ahead of Patient Care ! Buyer beware on what's being sold in slick advertising...
It does not take much research to uncover the corruption during the Bush administration Mrs. Adams. The fact that Rove has refused to testify to this day speaks volumes. Its just a shame that Hunter S. Thompson is not around anymore to write about such things.
Actually, the US Attorneys that were fired were appointed by Bush. He was within his rights as President to dismiss them, but the circumstances of their dismissal leads to question the ethics of the situation.
LOL right Jane, coming from a constant parrot of generalized right-wing preception.
Firing people for being democrats is not a crime. The only crimes that was committed was by George Bush for NOT firing them when he came into office as all other presidents have done and not telling the thuggish, corrupt democrats to go suck an egg.
Try actually doing some research instead of just reading the DNC talking points.
If people want to make a stink about some of Obama's choices and unpaid taxes, let's not forget about the slew of criminals in the Bush administration. I guess outing a CIA agent or firing people for being democrats is looked at more favorably than someone who made some tax mistakes
He will most likly get the JOB if he hasn't paid his TAXES.
I'm surprised it hasn't taken no longer than this to bring the country down with with the new P & VP. I used this to hide the identity !!!!
Anyone could do better than Bredesen! Please take him! I bet he could not pass the vetting process!
So Ron Ramsey is "right on the phone" when he gets a whiff of Bredesen being considered for another job? Yea, thats just the kindness of Ron's heart speaking there. I'd love to hear one of those calls of "support". LOL. "PLEASE, Phil is a GREAT, OUTSTANDING man. He would be PERFECT for ANY other job." While it would say alot for the folks that placed Gov. Bredesen in office, as well as the Governor himself, PLEASE DONT LEAVE US WITH RAMSEY HOLDING THE REIGNS.