NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Tea party protesters gathered outside the state Capitol to call on Republican Gov. Bill Haslam to reject the creation of a state-run health insurance exchange under President Barack Obama's health care overhaul.
About 300 protesters were joined by a handful of GOP lawmakers and talk radio personalities in denouncing the health care law.
Tennessee is 1 of 10 states yet to decide whether it will run its own health insurance marketplace, let the federal government handle it or choose a hybrid of the two. The deadline to decide is Dec. 14.
Protester Micah Forrest of Murfreesboro says the federal government should do it.
If Haslam decides to let the state handle it, lawmakers attending the protest say such a measure will have a hard time passing the Legislature.
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