TennCare Sit-In

Quick activist alert: 12 Tennessee citizens are in the 11th day of a sit-in at Gov. Bredesen's (D) office in Nashville. They have been joined by 50 or more demonstrators outside, protesting Bredesen's proposed deep cuts in the TennCare health system -- almost a third of a million people kicked off the rolls.

Here's their statement of demands:
 

WHAT WE WANT

We are here in the Governor's Office, as afforded by the Constitution of Tennessee to assemble peaceably, to instruct the governor. We call on the Governor to:

1. Halt all of the termination letters immediately, the process for cutting enrollment, and the reduction of benefit limits.

2. Provide written agreement to resume talks before June 30th, to review reforms and revenue generation that could allow TennCare to be maintained for those who are proposed to be cut and receive benefit limits.

a. That these talks happen in manner fully accessible to the public.

b. That they engage enrollees and medical professionals chosen from and with in this participating group.

"We will stay as long as necessary," said Louis Patrick from the Governor's Office, "absolutely, no doubt, we are staying."

A great site for following the sit-in, including a day-by-day report, is the Memphis Center for Independent Living, a group representing citizens with disabilities who would be severely affected by the cuts.

More later ...

(Thanks to reader LK in South Carolina for the tip)