Gingrich praises Bredesen on health care stance

Former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich is praising Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen for his vocal criticism of health care proposals before congress that he says will be unaffordable for the states.
Gingrich, a Republican, said in a speech last week to the Nashville Health Care Council that the Democratic governor’s experiences in dealing with exploding health care costs in Tennessee should serve as “a real model for the country.’’
Bredesen in 2005 cut 170,000 adults from TennCare and reduced benefits for thousands more because of escalating costs at the state’s expanded Medicaid program.
Bredesen said in his speech to the group that the estimated cost of the health care proposals could present “challenges to the financial viability of our state.’’ Gingrich says more people in Congress should listen to Bredesen, “rather than charging merrily down the road, inventing a fantasy.’’