NASHVILLE — Democratic Gov. Phil Bredesen is less than happy over a decision by Tennessee’s four Republican congressmen to vote against a U.S. House-passed bill aimed at blocking Bush administration efforts to cut federal Medicaid spending.

The measure, which passed on a 349-62 vote, among other things would stop President Bush from cutting $73 million that now goes to the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services for case management of some 30,000 children and youth.

Without the bill, the state will lay off about 160 workers and will spend millions to maintain the case management system.

“I just think it’s government at its worst,” Gov. Bredesen said of the Bush administration move.

“I was not pleased with our delegation’s response,” he said.

Tennessee Republican U.S. Reps. Zach Wamp, David Davis, John Duncan and Marsha Blackburn all voted no. U.S. Rep. Jim Cooper, D-Tenn., abstained. The other four Democratic House members voted for the measure, which the U.S. Senate has yet to act on.

Rep. Wamp, a Chattanoogan, noted the bill came out of the House Energy and Commerce Committee unanimously with Rep. Blackburn and other Republicans backing it.

But he said majority Democrats violated a procedural agreement that has become an “undemocratic” pattern among House Democratic leaders.

“There was an agreement they would bring it to the floor under the regular order so it would be subject to amendment, regular rule, the way it’s supposed to be done on anything this large an issue,” he said.

But Rep. Wamp said Democratic leaders put it on the suspension calendar “which means no opportunity for amendment, no opportunity for Republican alternatives.”

“It really wasn’t the merits of the legislation at all,” he said, later noting it was a “tough vote to make because, you know, in principle of course I want our state to receive the Medicaid funds. ... But we can’t let the new majority run all over the history of the House.”

There is no word on why Rep. Cooper abstained. A Cooper spokesman did not return a telephone call Friday afternoon.

Rep. Wamp, meanwhile, said Republicans fear a supplemental war bill may go straight to the floor without the ability to amend it. If that happens, he warned, “we’ll probably shut the entire House down.”

CABLE BILLS

Efforts by Chattanooga’s electricity distributor, EPB, to offer television or telephone services outside its immediate service area is dead for the year, its lead House sponsor acknowledged last week.

“The bill as we know it is dead,” said Rep. Mark Maddox, D-Dresden, of the bill, which also would have permitted electric cooperatives to offer cable and broadband Internet services.

The cable industry fought against the bill. Rep. Maddox said the two sides are expected to talk and legislation may be offered next year.

“One more time, the little guy took it on the chin,” he said.

Meanwhile, legislation that would let AT&T offer television services statewide is scheduled for debate on the floor Monday. The cable industry fought it to a standstill last year, but House Speaker Jimmy Naifeh, D-Covington, forced the two sides to reach an agreement this year.