Republicans on the Senate Education Committee voted down the "Tennessee Rural Health Act" (SB4099/HB4130) this morning -- 4 aye, 2 nay, 3 present not voting. All four Democrats on the committee voted in favor.

The program is supported by the Tennessee Medical Association, Tennessee Nurses Association, Tennessee Academy for Physicians Assistants, Tennessee Dental Association, and the Tennessee Optometrists Association.

Mark Brown, Communications Director for the Tennessee Senate Democratic Caucus, said "Jim Tracy and the Senate Republicans obviously believe that Bedford, Moore, and other rural Tennessee counties don't need qualified medical professionals."