May 19, 2013
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- In the months following his first legislative session, freshman Gov. Bill Haslam was able to boast in speeches about unanimous approval of his budget plan and a near perfect record with his legislative agenda.
The Republican's sophomore effort wasn't quite as much of a slam dunk. Haslam's $31 billion spending plan went to a conference committee for the first time since the income tax fights of a decade ago, and 29 lawmakers voted against the final version.
Haslam had to abandon an effort to lift a cap average classroom sizes amid growing fears among educators and parents.
Meanwhile, the governor's pledge to bring more transparency to the state's economic development was undercut by a bill seeking to close more records regarding companies receiving cash grants. That bill was abando
