By Todd Hatton
Murray, KY – Concerns over federal spending decisions could play a larger role in determining Tennessee's debt rating than what Governor Bill Haslam called the state's positive story on how it manages its finances. Haslam held meetings with the three major ratings agencies in New York this week. Haslam says the agencies were impressed by Tennessee's low debt level and its management of TennCare expenses. Pending federal spending reductions are a major factor that the state can't control, though Haslam says Tennessee is no more vulnerable to cuts than other states. Haslam says the agencies also appreciated that each state agency drew up contingency plans for federal cuts of 15 and 30 percent.