Haslam: “Leave James and Sarah where they are”

A visitor walks by the tomb of James K. Polk tomb in Nashville on March 13, 2018. (Erik Schelzig, Tennessee Journal)

The Knoxville News Sentinel caught up with Gov. Bill Haslam on Monday, asking him about a variety of issues including his feelings about a work requirement for TennCare recipients (he supports the bill), his NCAA bracket (it’s busted), and calls to exhume the bodies of President James K. Polk and and his wife, Sarah, from the grounds of the state Capitol grounds and move them to Columbia.

Haslam said he’d be disinclined to move the Polks: “I guess if the vote was up to me I’d leave them buried there on the grounds.”

“They were buried there around the corner from where their home was, a block and a half away from the Capitol. It is a point of interest that a lot of citizens that come and tour the Capitol get to see. It’s not something I have strong feelings about but if the vote was up to me I’d leave James and Sarah where they are,” Haslam said.

The House version of a resolution calling for the move is up for a floor vote on Monday evening. A small change adopted in committee would require Senate approval. Supporters say it’s just the first step in a lengthy process that will ultimately require a court ruling.