Tennessee makes openness a priority.

• Position: OPEN RECORDS - Brief article

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam (R) has signed three executive orders prioritizing transparency and openness in state government, according to the Chattanoogan.

"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," he said. "The rule should be the more you can be in the open, the better."

Executive Order No. 2011-01 requires every executive branch employee to annually disclose the same information as the legislative branch. The counsel to the governor will serve as the chief ethics officer and will administer and maintain the policies and records related to the ethics policy.

Executive Order...