NASHVILLE - Gov. Bill Haslam today announced today he has implemented a 45-day freeze on any new state rules and regulations.
"It'll allow us to make sure that we're not doing anything that will hinder our ability to create jobs while we're protecting the responsibility we have," Haslam said during a news conference.
The Republican governor, who was sworn as Tennessee's chief executive on Saturday, also continued to defend his decision to change a requirement that Haslam and his cabinet members disclose their incomes and was put in place by his predecessor, Democrat Phil Bredesen.
Haslam did retain a requirement that they list major sources of income.
In issuing the executive order, Haslam noted only that "Tennesseans are very familiar with my relationship with Pilot and know that I'm committed to holding my administration to the highest ethical standards."
Asked by reporters whether that statement was at odds with his action, Haslam disagreed.
"I think it is the highest ethical standard," he said. "We're telling everybody exactly what we own. I don't think that next step of telling exactly what the amount is makes a difference."
Haslam's family owns Pilot Corp., which has a majority ownership share in the nation's largest truck stop chain, Pilot Flying J. The chain has estimated annual revenues of about $20 billion annually.