By Erik Schelzig, Associated Press
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam in his inaugural address on Saturday stressed themes of unity, educational improvement and job creation in what is sizing up a politically difficult second term.
Haslam in his 11-minute speech called on Tennesseans to join him in ensuring that he hands off the baton to the next governor with the state in a better position than when he started.
“The time is right for us to take longer strides, to run harder, to reach further and to gain more ground,” Haslam said. “To reach our full potential, we have to do it together.”
Haslam in November won re-election with 70 percent of the vote against nominal Democratic opposition, carrying all 95 counties in the process. But Haslam’s agenda faces strong challenges despite those lofty election results.
The governor has called a special legislative session starting on Feb. 2 to take up his proposal to extend health insurance to 200,000 low-income Tennesseans. The “Insure Tennessee” plan has strong support from hospital and business groups, but fellow Republicans are balking at the measure because it draws on money available under President Barack Obama’s health care law.
The governor has acknowledged that he will need the votes of all Democrats in the state House and Senate to give the proposal a chance of passing.
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