By AP
Nashville, TN – Governor Bill Haslam says he emphasized the need for transparency and responsiveness in his first meeting with his Cabinet. But the Republican on Wednesday continued to defend his decision to cancel a rule requiring himself and top aides to disclose their total earnings as still meeting the "highest ethical standards."
Haslam's first executive order as governor on Saturday scuttled the disclosure rules established by his Democratic predecessor Phil Bredesen. The move allows Haslam to keep private his income from his undisclosed share in family-owned Pilot, a national truck stop chain with annual revenues of $20 billion. He is also keeping that share outside of a blind trust for other investments.