TN Needs Transparency in Government Negotiations with Corporations

The Johnson City Press has this article about how Tennessee government officials are keeping negotiations with corporations locked behind closed doors - despite the giveaway of millions in taxpayer dollars to these billionaire corporations. For instance, Gov. Haslam's proposed budget cuts strip money away from higher education and TennCare recipients and gives it directly to corporations like Electrolux in Memphis ($97 million in the budget is directed toward the company for its facility in West Tennessee, and Haslam has proposed an additional $3 million to the corporation in state dollars to train its workers). Haslam also gave $31 million to private corporation CCA for its prison in West Tennessee.
The Tennessee Press reported the following after Haslam's inauguration: "Gov. Bill Haslam, one day after his inauguration Jan. 15, signed an executive order setting out his commitment to transparency and openness in state government. “Government works better when people have input into the process, you are open to alternatives and examine them, and then you explain why the decision was made,” Gov. Haslam said, according to a news release from the governor’s office.
“The rule should be the more you can be open, the better,” he said. Executive Order No. 2011-02 sets out that the policy of the executive branch of government will be to “facilitate the right of Tennesseans to know and have access to information with which to hold government accountable.”
So why, behind closed doors, is our government funneling taxpayer dollars to private corporations while stripping funds from public services that help Tennesseans? Why aren't they disclosing their negotiations with Amazon to bring its distribution facility to Tennessee?
Let your representatives and Gov. Haslam know you support transparency and accountability in corporate negotiations that involve taxpayer dollars. Go here and copy and paste the following into the Message box:
"In light of millions of dollars in taxpayer dollars and potential revenue being lost or given away to private corporations through economic recruitment deals, I implore my elected officials to make these negotiations open and transparent. As a taxpayer, I want to know that my taxpayer dollars are being used effectively. I don't understand why corporations need government money to run their businesses and train their employees when they are making billions annually, often without paying any taxes. I support Sen. Bo Watson's bill to make tax rulings open to the public, and I ask that you please support this legislation. I oppose any exemption on sales tax collection to Amazon, and I would prefer that my government use public funds to serve the public and Tennessee businesses, NOT private corporations from out of state. If nothing else, I want to know how my taxpayer dollars are being used in business negotiations with private corporations. Thank you."