Tuesday, May 24, 2016

Refugee lawsuit
Despite having concerns, Gov. Bill Haslam said Friday he will allow Tennessee to become the first state in the nation to sue the federal government over refugee resettlement without his signature. The action directs Attorney General Herbert Slatery to sue the federal government for noncompliance of the Refugee Act of 1980. Haslam noted that the bill allows the General Assembly to hire outside counsel at a cost to taxpayers, if Slatery refuses to pursue the case. " I have constitutional concerns about one branch of government telling another what to do," Haslam said. Slatery's office has not indicated whether he would follow the legislature’s directive. A spokesman said this week that the attorney general will find the "best option to continue to protect the interests of Tennessee.” Haslam also questioned whether it was the "proper course" for the state to attempt to dismantle the refugee act. "I believe the best way to protect Tennesseans from terrorism is to take the steps outlined in my administration’s Public Safety Action Plan, which enhances our ability to analyze information for links to terrorist activity, creates a Cyber Security Advisory Council, restructures our office of Homeland Security, establishes school safety teams, and provides training for active shooter incidents and explosive device attacks," the governor said. Soon after Haslam announced his decision, a critic of the measure suggested it would solidify the state's reputation "as the most unwelcoming state in the country."


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