NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A second lawsuit has been filed against the State of Tennessee after it imposed strict, new certification requirements for people who advise others about how to sign up for health insurance using the new health care exchange.
Nashville Public Library employee Exie Harrington and Metro social worker Trumeko Foxx were joined in the federal lawsuit by their union. They say the new state rules interfere with free speech rights.
The women and the Service Employees International Union Local 205 are asking a federal judge to block the new rules from being enforced.
Union President Doug Collier says the state has known for two years how the Affordable Care Act would be launched.
"Why the state waited up to approximately two weeks prior to the sign-up we don’t’ know. What we do know, is that we think it deters people from signing and it deters people from helping people to sign up.”
For his part, Governor Haslam insists the new rules are "not intended to be a stumbling block."
Last week a state judge declined to block the new rules, but did schedule a hearing on the matter for next week.