Tennesseans in the extreme eastern part of the state will have a chance to hear firsthand from President Obama, as he brings his case for healthcare reform to Bristol Virginia Wednesday.
Our Congressional delegation is playing a key role in the increasingly-heated debate over healthcare reform. Congressman Jim Cooper is a leading Blue Dog Democrat, the group of 43 moderate Dems who are trying to slow down the race to reform, and ponder its potential cost.
Today, Blue Dogs gladdened the hearts of minority Republicans with their dogged resistance (sorry) to reform proposals being pushed by the Democratic House leadership.
Over in the Senate, which is taking a more cautious approach to reform, Senate Republican Conference Chairman Lamar Alexander is leading the effort to counter Administration arguments for their health care plan. Alexander alone claims to have reached out to some 45,000 in Tennessee during a nationwide series of GOP-organized online townhall meetings on healthcare reform and got half of those on the phone. During the calls he took several questions on the Obama healthcare plan and the GOP alternatives. This comes as the Presidnet mounts his own online townhall meeting on reform.
Above, Nashville Rep. Jim Cooper expresses his concerns over the cost of healthcare reform, and hopes for a compromise, during an appearance on CNN.