By ERIK SCHELZIG / Associated Press
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- Gov. Bill Haslam is defending his decision to include his support for Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney in his official statement about the Supreme Court's decision to uphold much of the new federal health care law.
The governor told reporters at an event for military families at the governor's mansion in Nashville on Friday that "people want to know" what he thinks about such matters.
Haslam said in the press release and subsequent YouTube video on Thursday that the high court's decision to uphold the law championed by Democratic President Barack Obama makes it all the more important for Romney to win November's election because in the governor's words he will see that "the entire law will be repealed."
State Democrats say Haslam shouldn't waste taxpayer money on political campaigning.