Chattanooga Senator Todd Gardenhire is being criticized for shouting an expletive at a supporter of the Insure Tennessee health plan after yesterday’s emotional debate.
Video posted on YouTube captures the Republican lawmaker yelling at an unseen man who had questioned whether Gardenhire would drop the health coverage he receives as a state legislator.
The senator seems to have said, “Why don’t you give it up?” followed by another word for “jerk.” (Subtitles with the video quote Gardenhire
as saying, “Not giving it up…” as in his state-funded health insurance.)
Gardenhire
was unapologetic. He says the man had harangued him for voting against the health care proposal, even following him into a restroom.
“I had enough of it. He’s just lucky I didn’t call him by his last name, instead of his first name.”
Heated words are common around the Capitol, though it’s unusual for lawmakers to hurl insults. Gardenhire
, though, has been
criticized by Insure Tennessee activists for what they describe as a rude behavior.
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