NASHVILLE – Tennessee Senate Judiciary Chairman Mike Bell is sponsoring legislation challenging Gov. Bill Lee’s decision to accept a limited number of refugees under the Trump administration’s reconstituted federal resettlement program.
Bell, R-Riceville, introduced the bill Thursday as the Senate’s bill 5 p.m. (CST) bill filing deadline loomed in Nashville. His bill says Lee, a Republican cannot act on his own.
The chairman said in a statement that “as the state’s ultimate appropriator, the legislature must be involved in any decision that involves state funds. Because refugees have a significant financial impact on the state, the power to appropriate funds for their resettlement in Tennessee lies with the legislative branch under our state constitution.”
Acknowledging the governor and executive branch “does have an important role in governing the state, it is critical that Tennessee’s co-equal legislature does not have its authority usurped on this or any other issue,” Bell said.
“It is our responsibility as a citizen legislature to make sure our appropriation authority is retained in all matters – now and in the future,” Bell added. He also insisted that “this legislation is not about accepting or rejecting refugees in our state, but instead is about keeping each branch of government in their constitutional lanes.”