Republican gubernatorial candidate Rep. Diane Black (R-TN-06) issued a strong statement reacting to U.S. District Court Judge S. Thomas Anderson’s dismissal Monday of Tennessee’s refugee resettlement lawsuit against the federal government just moments after it was published.
“I am incredibly disappointed with Judge Anderson’s decision to dismiss Tennessee’s case,” Black said. “This is a slap in the face to the overwhelming majority of Tennesseans who are sick and tired of being forced to foot the federal government’s bill for resettling refugees.”
Turning her ire to the “status quo” of management of Tennessee’s previous top executives, she added, “The last two governors have outsourced refugee resettlement, and I believe it’s time for the state to take back that responsibility. As governor, I will not tolerate this federal overreach, and I will fight to empower our citizens and keep them safe.”
Black’s statement points out that even though Tennessee opted out of the federal refugee resettlement program, 2,397 refugees arrived in the state in 2016, resettled by the federal government in a refugee admissions program managed in the state by Catholic Charities of Tennessee.
The lawsuit alleged, among other things, a 10th Amendment violation by the federal government for forcing the state to accept refugees and provide them Medicaid benefits, or risk losing $7 billion of Medicaid funding each year.
The case is Tennessee et al v. U.S. Department of State et al, U.S. District Court, Western District of Tennessee, No. 17-01040.
The TN State Legislature sabotaged the lawsuit – which was predicted by Eagle Forum – by proposing in-state tuition for illegal aliens and other benefits for non-citizens. The judge found that TN “does not have standing” because the State contradicted itself in their funding policies of non-citizens.
There is only 1 court recognized in the Constitution as the Judicial branch of govt. That is the Supreme Court. These federal courts are constructs of the Legislative branch of govt. They continually overstep their bounds and people act as if the can never be questioned. They are not the “Be all, end all.”
As President Andrew Jackson said,”They have made their decision, now let them enforce it.”
Carry on in spite of them! It’s time to re-instate our Federal system of govt, not wet the bed because some minor court officer has ruled against what is the states prerogative. Too many 2 bit courts are impeding our govt and it is long past time to put them in their place.