Haslam-O-Meter
Tracking the promises of Bill Haslam
Haslam-O-Meter Scorecard
Browse the Haslam-O-Meter:
PolitiFact Tennessee has compiled promises that Gov. Bill Haslam made during the 2010 campaign and is tracking their progress on our Haslam-O-Meter.
We rate their status as Not Yet Rated, In the Works or Stalled. Once we find action is completed, we rate them Promise Kept, Compromise or Promise Broken. (See About the Haslam-O-Meter for details on our ratings.)
The report card at right provides an up-to-the-minute tally of all the promises.
Promises we’ve rated recently
Improve tourism marketing
Will develop "a comprehensive marketing strategy for our state that can be used to maximize interest from visitors and new investment alike . . . At the regional level, I will utilize the jobs base camps I will create and ensure that every region incorporates a plan for tourism into their unique economic development strategies. Moreover, the state must continue its efforts to maximize the reach of tourists' investments in Tennessee by driving them to locations throughout the state."
Evaluate HOPE Scholarship program
"As governor, I will revisit the goals of the (HOPE Scholarship) program and carefully evaluate its effectiveness at meeting those goals. I will work to enhance the impact of all lottery scholarship programs."
Give the University of Memphis more autonomy
"I think the University of Memphis needs more autonomy. I think the board of the University of Memphis should be able to hire and fire their own president, they should be able to set their own tuition."
Decentralize the Department of Economic and Community Development
Will “Restructure the Department of Economic and Community Development by decentralizing the home office and pushing leadership and support to the regional level.”
Create online jobs clearinghouse
Will "develop an online jobs clearinghouse that will pull together existing market data in a user-friendly way so that every jobseeker, employer, community official, higher education institution, and economic development organization has access to timely and accurate information on the current and future economic landscape of Tennessee."
Develop a support network for senior citizens.
Will "coordinate the efforts of the Area Agencies on Aging and Disability and private sector nonprofits, faith-based and community groups to make sure the right information and resources are available to those who need it. He will create this network to ensure they are talking, sharing information and providing the right level of support. Mayor Haslam will also use this effort to draw attention to this important issue and to educate the public on the challenges facing seniors and those who care for them."
Improving Motor Vehicles Department
Will “improve the efficiency of the Tennessee Department of Motor Vehicles and make sure taxpayers are treated like valuable customers, the way we do in business.”
Work to eliminate cap on charter schools
Will "work to increase the prevalence of charter schools in Tennessee by supporting removal of restrictions such as the cap on the number of charter schools allowed to operate in the state as well as restrictions on who can re-enroll in charter schools."
Use TVAAS to rate teacher performance
The state will "use TVAAS to find where teacher performance is working and where it's not ... If we're going to move forward we're going to have to use data to see what's working and what's not in schools."
Increase penalties for violent crime.
"... if the state wants to get serious about reducing crime and keeping communities safe then we must increase the penalties for committing violent crimes."
Review multi-language driver's license tests
"The current practice of administering the (state driver's license) written test in multiple languages should be reviewed to examine its costs and benefits."
Create a regional workforce development assessment
Will "perform regional workforce development assessments so that we can quickly begin to help employers, postsecondary institutions and local officials develop strategies for helping businesses grow and local workers receive the training necessary to fill new jobs."
Explore cost-effective alternatives to prison
"We should review in detail the factors driving the costs of incarceration and look for smarter, more cost-effective systems and procedures."
Create academic leadership academy
Will develop a statewide leadership academy with a "focus on improving the leadership development pipeline so that the best candidates are selected, the best training is provided and the leadership needs of local school districts are met by a crop of highly effective principals.”
Won't raise taxes
"I know it's not going to be easy when the next governor takes office, but taxes are job killers. The last thing we should do is raise taxes on a population that is already struggling and a small business community that has been forced to cut back. ... Tennessee already has the highest combined state and average local sales tax rate in the nation and I will not allow it to get any higher."
