Gov. Bill HaslamRepublican Gov. Bill Haslam this week gave a pep talk to the state House’s huge 22-member class of incoming freshman lawmakers in which he encouraged them to choose good public policy over playing politics.
“There’s a way to be about good government versus a way to always be about politics,” the governor told the freshmen during their orientation.
Conceding there are “times when you have to come up with a political answer — that’s just the reality,” Haslam added, “but I really hope that we’re always driven by getting to the right answer.”
Of course, the governor also acknowledged, that right answer may be somewhat subjective.
Republicans picked up big gains in the House on Nov. 6, increasing their 64-member majority to a 70-member strong “super majority” in the 99-member chamber.