2022 TN Governor's race: on Health Care


Jason Martin: Led fight for Tennessee's healthcare in rural communities

During Dr. Martin's time at Nashville General it became quickly apparent to him that while families in Tennessee are working hard, our elected officials are working harder against them. After twelve rural hospitals closed in Tennessee, Dr. Martin went on to lead the fight for Tennessee's healthcare in our rural communities.

We have already paid our fair share to fund Medicaid but we have a governor who refuses to send that money back to our communities. Medicaid expansion is not just something we have already paid for but is necessary to make sure our state can thrive. We could cover as many as 400,000 more working Tennesseans by fully participating in the program. Getting back our hard earned Medicaid dollars would help reestablish some of our many closed hospitals, emergency rooms and clinics.

Source: 2022 Tennessee Governor campaign website MartinForTN.com Aug 7, 2022

Jason Martin: We are breaking our families with medical debt

We must expand Medicaid. Medicaid expansion not only is the right thing to do to take care of our brothers and sisters here in Tennessee, it's the right thing to do economically. Not expanding Medicaid has contributed to being #1 in the nation in hospital closures per capita and number on in the nation in medical bankruptcies per capita--we are breaking our families with medical debt. With Medicaid expansion, we could decrease the uninsured in Tennessee by 50%.
Source: WTVF on 2022 Tennessee Gubernatorial race Jul 18, 2022

JB Smiley: Pro-vaccination/pro-mask mandate, shouldn't be political

Tennessee is considered one of the states with the highest number of COVID-19 cases and the death rate has recently increased, making the state No. 11 in the nation in deaths caused by the virus. Smiley, who is pro-vaccination and pro-mask mandates, said the role of government is to do what's best for the general welfare of all Tennesseans, even if some disagree. "These things should not be political," Smiley asserted. "We should listen to the experts and do what's best for the greater good."
Source: Tri-State Defender on 2022 Tennessee Gubernatorial race Oct 14, 2021

Bill Lee: Defies judges; lets parents opt out of mask mandates

Lee is extending an Executive Order letting parents opt their children out of mask mandates in schools, despite the order being blocked by multiple judges. "I've been incredibly disappointed by the rulings from federal judges who've chosen to legislate from the bench," Lee said. "Parents should be the ones who decide. Parents know what is best for their children and should have the last word on health and welfare for their children."
Source: WZTV on 2022 Tennessee Gubernatorial race Sep 30, 2021

Carnita Atwater: Ensure access to health care no matter where people live

[On COVID}: "I'll encourage folks across the state to do right by each-other. That means getting vaccinated. And I'll ensure Tennesseans have access to health care no matter where they live."
Source: Tennessee Journal on 2022 Tennessee Gubernatorial race Sep 8, 2021

Carnita Atwater: Should Democrats focus on COVID response in uphill race?

There's some debate internally among Democrats about whether and how much to talk about COVID-19 on the campaign trail. Despite criticisms of Lee's response from some corners, the governor has remained popular in limited public polling, and fewer than 40 percent of Tennesseans have been fully vaccinated against the disease--among the lowest rates in the nation.
Source: Nashville Scene on 2022 Tennessee Gubernatorial race Aug 12, 2021

  • The above quotations are from 2022 Tennessee Gubernatorial race: debates and news coverage.
  • Click here for definitions & background information on Health Care.
  • Click here for other issues (main summary page).
  • Click here for more quotes by Bill Lee on Health Care.
Candidates and political leaders on Health Care:

Gubernatorial Debates 2020:
DE: vs.Carney(incumbent) vs.Williams(D)
IN: vs.Holcomb(incumbent) vs.Melton(D) vs.Myers(D)
MO: Parson(incumbent) vs.Galloway(D) vs.Neely(R)
MT: Bullock(retiring) vs.Fox(R) vs.Perry(R) vs.Gianforte(R) vs.Stapleton(R) vs.Olszewski(R) vs.Neill(D) vs.Schreiner(D) vs.Cooney(D) vs.Williams(D)
NC: Cooper(incumbent) vs.Forest(R) vs.Grange(R)
ND: Burgum(incumbent) vs.Coachman(R) vs.Lenz(D)
NH: Sununu(incumbent) vs.Volinsky(D) vs. fsFeltes(D)
PR: Rossello(D) vs.Garced(D) vs.Pierluisi(D)
UT: Herbert(retiring) vs.Huntsman(R) vs.Cox(R) vs.Burningham(R) vs.Newton(D) vs.Hughes(R)
VT: Scott(incumbent) vs.Holcombe(D) vs.Zuckerman(D)
WA: Inslee(incumbent) vs.Bryant(R) vs.Fortunato(R)
WV: Justice(incumbent) vs.Folk(R) vs.Thrasher(R) vs.Vanover(D) vs.Smith(D) vs.Ron Stollings(D)
Gubernatorial Debates 2021:
NJ:
Murphy(D) vs.Ciattarelli(R)
VA:
Northam(D,term-limited) vs.Herring(D) vs.Chase(R) vs.Fairfax(D)

Gubernatorial Debates 2019:
KY:
Bevin(R) vs.Goforth(R,lost primary) vs.Adkins(D,lost primary) vs.Beshear(D) vs.Edelen(D,lost primary)
LA:
Edwards(D) vs.Rispone(R) vs.Abraham(R) vs.Kennedy(R,declined)
MS:
Bryant(R,retiring) vs.Foster(R) vs.Hood(D) vs.Reeves(R) vs.Waller(R)
Please consider a donation to OnTheIssues.org!
Click for details -- or send donations to:
1770 Mass Ave. #630, Cambridge MA 02140
E-mail: submit@OnTheIssues.org
(We rely on your support!)

Page last updated: Sep 23, 2022