On the heels of Tennessee’s decision to appeal a federal judge’s ruling to dismiss the lawsuit against the federal government’s resettlement of refugees Thursday, gubernatorial candidate Diane Black issued a statement supporting the decision.
“I applaud the State of Tennessee for choosing to defend our Constitutional rights and appealing this decision,” Black said in a statement. “This is an issue of states’ rights. Tennessee withdrew from the refugee resettlement program over a decade ago, and it’s time the federal government listens to the will of the people of Tennessee.”
As reported by The Tennessee Star earlier, the Thomas Moore Law Center is handling the case as no cost to the state:
“We are grateful to the designated representatives of the General Assembly, State Representatives Terri Lynn Weaver and William Lamberth and State Senator John Stevens, for authorizing us to continue this significant legal battle. This case involves critical constitutional issues regarding the appropriate balance between the powers of the federal government and the states. The district court decision dismissing this case conflicts with several U.S. Supreme Court opinions upholding State sovereignty against overreach by the federal government,” Richard Thompson, President and Chief Counsel of the Thomas More Law Center, said in the statement.
The statement noted that the litigation was “[i]nformed by Supreme Court Chief Justice Roberts’ observation that, ‘The States are separate and independent sovereigns. Sometimes they have to act like it.’ ”
