Haslam would like Amazon deal by January

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Arkansas-Tennessee Live Blog

Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam said today he'd like to have an agreement with Amazon over sales tax collections by the time the Legislature meets in January.

"We'd love to be able to have something wrapped by the time the Legislature comes back so we'd have something to present to them, but I can't give that as a hard timeline because I don't know that we're there," he said in Chattanooga.

Speaking after a meeting with business and government leaders, Haslam said officials are having "productive conversations" with Amazon over the issue.

But, he bristled at the idea that Tennessee isn't living up to an agreement made with Amazon by Haslam's predecessor, former Gov. Phil Bredesen.

"We are keeping our word," Haslam said. He said people in other states who may be saying Tennessee officials aren't following through on the original deal are "dead wrong."

Haslam is in the city to keynote the Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce's annual meeting.

For full story, see Thursday's Times Free Press.