TennCare Alert - May 11

Not enough people are making calls to their two state legislators.

We are close to the end of this legislative session (two weeks away) where calling ALL LEGISLATORS IS IMPORTANT. THEY NEED TO HEAR FROM YOU.

MESSAGE: People need to ask their state legislators to ask members of the House and Senate Finance Committees to put $75 million state dollars into the State Budget so that 40,000 uninsurable, very sick Tennesseans can get the health care they need.

Remind them that last year over $550 million state dollars and over 200,000 people were cut from TennCare. We are asking them to restore just $75 million and provide coverage for up to 40,000 very sick people who were cut off.

The money is there. The Tennessean newspaper has reported a surplus of $266 million. Are the people of Tennessee going to make the $75 million for very sick people a priority? This is why calls, faxes and emails make a difference.

How can we get more people to call, write, fax and email?

1. Have you asked family members to take action and make calls?
2. Have you asked your minister to take action? And asked him/her if you can make an announcement at church and pass out a sheet with phone numbers and instructions on what people must do?
3. Have your asked your friends to call and work associates? There is a toll free 800 number for state legislators. People can call during the day or in the evening.
4. Can you leaflet a neighborhood, asking people to call. Call us at 1-800-280-8682 for a sample flyer.

What happens if we do not make the call?

Road builders get an extra $43 million. And $44 million are spent on pet legislative projects. And $15 million extra are given to state employees for a 3% raise rather than a 2% raise. Or $80 million more going to education. Are these your priorities?

Now is the time to respond and speak up. Now is the time to take 10 minutes and make the call. Ask your legislators to make "People" a priority and put $75 million additional funds in TennCare for people who are uninsurable. They need to hear from you.

CALL TODAY! CALL NOW! Click on the links below to find your state representative and state senator, their phone #, fax # and email address.

State Representatives and State Senators: Call toll free by dialing 1-800-449-8366, then use the last 5 digits of their legislative number for their extension. For example, the Nashville phone number for Senator Jerry Cooper is 741-6694. To call Senator Cooper you would dial 1-800-449-8366. His extension is 16694, the last 5 digits of his phone number.

http://www.legislature.state.tn.us/

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Keep up the good work. Make those contacts!

Tony Garr

Tennessee Health Care Campaign

1103 Chapel Ave. • Nashville, TN 37206

www.tenncare.org • tgarr@thcc2.org