NASHVILLE (AP) - Protesters advocating for the passage of Gov. Bill Haslam's Insure Tennessee proposal lined the hallways, sang and chanted as lawmakers who defeated the measure last year returned for the first day of the legislative session.
With all 99 House seats and 16 of 33 senators up for re-election this fall, most lawmakers will be looking to wrap up their business quickly so they can concentrate of their campaigns.
Republican Gov. Bill Haslam will be looking to bounce back from last year's failure of his Medicaid expansion proposal. The governor's agenda is expected to include creating individual boards for each of the six four-year colleges in the Tennessee Board of Regents system.
Haslam's efforts to boost state revenues for road projects face an uncertain fate among lawmakers keeping an eye on election season.