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Group gives Haslam’s new logo ‘Pork of the Year’ award

Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam visited with Volkswagen Group of America Chief Executive Michael Horn at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit last week. Haslam got behind the wheel of a concept of a new sport utility vehicle that could be made at VW's Chattanooga plant.
Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam visited with Volkswagen Group of America Chief Executive Michael Horn at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit last week. Haslam got behind the wheel of a concept of a new sport utility vehicle that could be made at VW's Chattanooga plant. Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam visited with Volkswagen Group of America Chief Executive Michael Horn at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit last week. Haslam got behind the wheel of a concept of a new sport utility vehicle that could be made at VW's Chattanooga plant.

By Andy Sher 3 min read

NASHVILLE – Yes, it was a tough battle for the honor, but a Nashville free-market think tank and advocacy group says voters on its website chose Gov. Bill Haslam’s controversial $46,000 Tennessee logo for its Tennessee “Pork of the Year” award.

Finishing in second place was the $165 million in state incentives for Volkswagen’s Chattanooga plant for a new line of SUVs.

Justin Owen, president of the Tennessee Beacon Center, said in a statement that it was the first time his group “let you decide which instance of government waste should be named ‘Pork of the Year.'”

“It was a close matchup, but in the end, the new Tennessee $46,000 logo debacle pulled it out, barely edging out the $165 million handout to VW by a vote of 47 percent to 39 percent,” Owen said.

The Haslam administration has come under fire for its development through a Nashville firm for a new logo, which features the letters “TN” imposed on a state flag-like background.