Welcome to Gov. Haslam's Open and Transparent Government; Rescinds Executive Disclosure Rule

[doeriver]

Haslam order rescinds earnings disclosure rule
http://www.tennessean.com/print/article/20110117/NEWS02/101170338/Haslam-order-rescinds-earnings-disclosure-rule



January 17, 2011

By Erik Schelzig | ASSOCIATED PRESS
and Chris Echegaray | THE TENNESSEAN

In one of his first official acts as the state's chief executive, Gov. Bill Haslam on Saturday eliminated requirements for the governor and top aides to disclose how much they earn in outside income.

In the same breath, the newly inaugurated Republican governor said he wants a transparent government, signing an additional order that establishes open government principles.

Haslam's move wipes off the books the first executive order signed by his predecessor, Democrat Phil Bredesen, after he took office in 2003. That order required top executive branch officials to make annual reports about their total earnings.

Under the order released Sunday, a day after Haslam took office, the disclosure rules applying to the governor and senior administration officials will be the same as those for members of the General Assembly. Those require officials to list sources of outside income, but not how much they earn. State government salaries will remain public information.

Order draws fire

It's an inauspicious start for the governor, said Dick Williams, state chairman for Common Cause, a national organization that presses for government accountability.

"To start right off the bat with that seems counterproductive, to put it mildly," Williams said. "Basically, I don't think it's good to close down something that previously was made public. You want more open government and disclosure rather than less."

Bredesen, who earned his personal fortune as a health-care entrepreneur before becoming a politician, disclosed in reports earning about $31.5 million in taxable income between 2003 and 2009.

Haslam was heavily criticized during the governor's race last year for refusing to say how much he earned from family-owned Pilot, a national truck stop chain with annual revenues of about $20 billion.

Haslam argued that releasing his Pilot earnings would reveal personal information about family members not running for office as well as proprietary information about the privately held company.

"This has been consistent with his position all throughout his campaign as a candidate and now as governor," spokesman David Smith said on Sunday.

But Democrats decry the move.

(...more at hyperlink)

[SharonAnn]

1. And he appointed an anti-EPA lawyer to head up TDEC, the Department of Environment and Conservation.

Not really a surprise.