Critics still unhappy with secrecy in grants bill

Critics still unhappy with secrecy in grants bill

Posted:

NASHVILLE (AP) - A revised version of Gov. Bill Haslam's proposal to close access to "due diligence" information used in deciding whether companies should get economic development grants makes no specific reference to keeping ownership details open to the public.

A Senate vote on the Republican governor's bill had been delayed until Thursday because of vocal concerns raised by Democratic Sen. Roy Herron of Dresden that keeping ownership details secret could lead to cronyism and corruption.

The Republican speakers of both chambers, Rep. Beth Harwell of Nashville and Sen. Ron Ramsey of Blountville, later agreed that ownership information of companies receiving taxpayer money should not be kept secret.

The amendment posted on the Legislature's website Wednesday afternoon does not mention ownership as either information meant to be kept confidential or public.

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