What a great beginning for our new Governor!

I'm not really sure why I am surprised at this, but our new Governor, Bill Haslam, doesn't think you have any business in knowing just how money he or his aides make in outside income.  Um, conflict of interest?

Even the New York Times has noted how the Pilot Oil heir moved quickly to gut financial disclosure requirements put in by his predecessor, Phil Bredesen, who was no poor fella himself.

(Um, did I just say something NICE about Bredesen? Wow, times change quickly, don't they?)

Anyway, I'm not the only one not thrilled about this nose-thumbing at the public interest.  One of my favorite Republicans, Jenci Spradlin (and there's not a lot of them, frankly, but there ARE some), noted at MODERATELY MARVELOUS the proper question to ask:

Could those advising Governor Haslam not anticipate how this would be perceived by the public and media, or did they just not care?  Either way, it’s an interesting way to define what many hoped would be a new renaissance for Republicans in Tennessee.

Good question.  Makes you wonder how the meeting went where that decision was made, doesn't it?  (Terrorist Fist Bump to Charlton for the idea).

I have kept silent for too long...

I have been lobbied, as it were, by two different people who represent me, regarding whether the state's Open Meetings Law should be adjusted. As you may or may not know, a Knox County judge said that whenever two or more local legislators talk about an issue in private, it's deliberation, which caused local (and STATE) legislators to have a fit, claiming that was NOT what they had in mind when the law was initially passed. I have been advised that if this is allowed to stand, that lobbyists can line up votes with County Commissioners or City Councilors but other Commissioners or Councilors cannot.

I have trouble with that statement, because I believe lobbyists CAN and SHOULD be more regulated than they are. I think the ruling may have gone a tad far, but maybe not.

Let's face it: either you're for transparency in government or you're not. This needs to go to the Supremes in Nashville for a definitive ruling so we can see what, if anything needs to be done.

In the interim, here are some writings on the subject from the various sides:

Change the law: Steve Mulroy

Keep it as it is:

Joe Lance

Newscoma

Jack Lail

Russ McBee

Knoxville News-Sentinel

Joe Lance (again)

I want you to read all these (and if there are more in the vein of Mulroy, let me know and I will link to them.

I just have REAL trouble with this, especially at a time like this, when the average public servant is trusted by the public less than a three-card-monte dealer.

I want to hear your thoughts.