Chattanooga Times Free Press: Tennessee Senate panel approves resolution to sue federal government over refugees

- Quote:
-
NASHVILLE — A Senate panel on Tuesday approved a resolution to sue the federal government over refugee resettlement-related issues, which first exploded last fall amid worries over Syrian refugees and Islamist extremists.
The Senate Finance Committee voted 9-1 to "direct" Tennessee Attorney General Herbert Slatery to sue. And because Republicans acknowledge they really can't force Slatery to sue, the resolution also authorizes the General Assembly to retain its own counsel and march into federal court.
The resolution, pushed by Republican Speaker Ron Ramsey, now goes to the Senate floor, where it would have to be approved and then go to the House. It is expected to fly through the upper chamber.
Senate Majority Leader Mark Norris, R-Collierville, who presented the measure, made no mention of Syrians or Islamists to colleagues.
Instead, he focused on "unfunded mandates" on states, as well as what he said was the Obama administration's unwillingness to provide information about what refugees are being located in Tennessee and "states' rights" under the U.S. Constitution's 10th Amendment.
Federal law — 8 U.S.C. § 1157(a)(1) — authorizes a president to admit any number of refugees he believes "is justified by humanitarian concerns or is otherwise in the national interest." Alabama and Texas have already filed lawsuits challenging the resettlement of refugees.
Tennessee gave up running its own refugee resettlement program years ago and it is handled by the nonprofit Catholic Charities.
Norris said Tennessee takes in more than 1,000 refugees annually and state government is having to foot portions of the costs in areas such as Medicaid.
After Sen. Steve Dickerson, R-Nashville, said the measure is "not welcoming" to people who are suffering or in danger in their home countries, Norris said, "This is not intended to be mean-spirited. It's not intended to engage in fear mongering."
Stephanie Teatro, co-executive Director of the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition, later charged that's exactly what the measure amounts to. She said senators "voted to shut the door on refugee families in an exercise of political theater and election-year politics at its worst. The Senate Finance Committee just passed the most extreme piece of anti-refugee legislation in the country that asks Tennessee taxpayers to foot the bill for frivolous litigation that won't hold up in court."
She said at the national level "anti-refugee organizations have been shopping around this very lawsuit for months and have embarrassingly found a potential partner in Tennessee." Among those voting yes on Senate Joint Resolution 467 was Sen. Bo Watson, R-Hixson. It has 22 sponsors.
....thoughts?
|