By AP
Nashville, TN – Tennessee's Republican Governor Bill Haslam is defending his first executive act that eliminated the requirements for the governor and top aides to disclose how much they earn in outside income. Haslam says that while he did think the public should know the sources of income and investments for public officials, he didn't think the amount was important. During the governor's race, Haslam refused to say how much he earned from family owned Pilot, a national truck stop chain with annual revenues of about $20 billion. Tennessee Democratic Party Chairman Chip Forrester yesterday criticized Haslam's decision to overturn an executive order signed by Haslam's predecessor, Democrat Phil Bredesen. Forrester says government should be more transparent, not less.