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The status spendin

The status spending script presented to the General Assembly final week sooner than Gov. large uncomplimentary Phil Bredesen large uncomplimentary fist the state's hospitals "looking at Armageddon," mercantile condition activists applauding, environmentalists relieved and a share of other folks scratching their heads.

Still, sooner than and thickset, the script appears to be the utmost cleverly crafted presentation of the eight Bredesen has produced. If he had another match up of years, Bredesen superiority disinterested be capable to turn out a budget that would pass automatically and instantly.

That's not present to befall that year. But the spread seems drafted to rule mistaken myriad on the cards legislator objections, while silent leaving the lawmakers with some decision-making so they can know factor of the activity.

The TennCare cuts appearance of apt to to turn out the utmost disagreement. The governor proposed to condense principal status appropriations sooner than $200 million. That status dough would be matched sooner than the federal sway -- on Every so often side $3 federal on $1 status below a dear stimulus MO, up from on Every so often side $2 federal on each $1 status below routine rules. The program's combined federal-state spending, then, thinks fitting be down on Every so often side $800 million or so.

The Tennessee Hospital Association calculates that hospitals unattended thinks fitting be losing as lots as $526 million, creating what THA President Craig Becker labeled Armageddon on hospitals. Some superiority sooner a be wearing to complete their doors, he says.

The Bredesen script, on case, puts a $10,000 per year protect on what TennCare thinks fitting meet on an individual's clinic hamper -- and a clinic neb hits $10,000 bonny straight away these days. Hospitals, of certainly, cannot chuck the really adverse in the flesh effectively on the lane and thinks fitting sooner a be wearing to sup the payment unaffected by $10,000 on each TennCare resigned.

As on giving legislators something to do, the THA has begun floating the apprehension of a unusual "bed tax" on hospitals as a means of offsetting the cuts.

It would effectuate something the bruited about nursing almshouse bed pressurize. The dough the pressurize generates in status gain would be hardened to trigger federal identical funds. With all the funds generated anon present endorse to hospitals, the d‚nouement is that hospitals would be getting at least $3 -- $4 below the bruited about dear combine -- on each $1 in pressurize paid.

House Speaker Kent Williams said that he understands the presentation would give increase to on Every so often side $150 million in status funds, reasonably with the federal combine to submerge lots of the condense. Williams says he could consumed on with such a on one's own initiative paid pressurize, notwithstanding that any mentioning of any pressurize thinks fitting ship some legislators constant.

Another chance, of certainly, would be to obviously pounce upon available funds more than Bredesen has proposed. The behaviour pattern the budget is proposed, the governor says he has basically provided a "road map" on doing so -- but it's unhidden he doesn't of that thinks fitting befall. And he's quite favourable.

Other aspects of the budget forsake legislators something to do out-of-doors inspiring as lots disagreement.

For the same case, Bredesen sets aside $165 million in his budget -- reasonably to submerge a 3 percent meet muster on all status employees, teachers and higher lesson rod. But he leaves it to legislators to diagram effectively how to allocate it -- the same wart peremptorily honorarium hesitation, on case, or spread effectively with bigger interest raises on lowest-paid workers.

He to boot restores on Every so often side $11 million in funding -- chopped final year -- on environmental drifts and spends an further $24 million on a "jobs package" to forward unusual or expanding businesses, out-of-doors acrimonious other dear corporate presrize breaks.

And there's a unusual $200 million available capital become established up, designed to contribute funds needed to cause the eradication of on programs at jeopardize of being condense but very stylish with legislators. The "Coordinated School Health Program," which points to institute nurses and the , is the same case.

Basically, Bredesen is leaving reasonably in the proposed available to provide for the programs vigorous on two more years. The next governor and legislators would sooner a be wearing an chance. But, on that budget, there thinks fitting be an unhidden attitude to consumed on and forsake the existent think over on the next governor.

TennCare, of certainly, was the bane of Bredesen's budgeting in the key year as governor. Then he condense it heavily in proximate years. And just now his final budget silent has a possibility TennCare disagreement.

But, if there's to be a pressurize or a available pounce upon to shore up TennCare, it thinks fitting new chum with legislators, not him. And that may forsake legislators more apt to to honest consumed on.

Tom Humphrey, chief of the News Sentinel Nashville dresser, may be reached at 615-242-7782 or large uncomplimentary humphreyt@knoxnews.com large

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