Tennessee GOP senator gives obscene response to protester
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – A state senator who has drawn the ire of supporters of Gov. Bill Haslam’s Insure Tennessee proposal called a protester an obscene name.
According to a YouTube video of the exchange at the legislative office complex on Tuesday, the protester repeatedly demanded of Chattanooga Republican Todd Gardenhire whether he would give up his state health insurance after contributing to the defeat of the measure to extend health insurance to 280,000 low-income Tennesseans.
The Chattanooga Times Free Press reports that the video was taken by Trae Haggard of East Ridge, who was on the Hill to demonstrate in support of Insure Tennessee. Haggard says he was “shocked” by Gardenhire’s profane response.
Gardenhire says he was upset because he had been followed into a restroom by the protester.
