NASHVILLE – Gov. Bill Haslam says he has concerns about a bill requiring state officials to stamp terms such as “Alien” or “Non-U.S. citizen” on Tennessee driver’s licenses and other forms of identification issued to persons without permanent legal status to live in the U.S.
Tennessee ranked No. 1 last year in job creation from direct foreign job investment. Haslam fears such a law risks sending the wrong signal to companies like Volkswagen and Nissan, which have huge presences in Tennessee and whose executives often visit on federally issued temporary work or travel visas.
“We have a lot of people who are here that we’re glad they’re here,” the Republican governor said, adding he hasn’t yet seen the legislation.
“Volkswagen, Nissan – and I could keep on going. We have more foreign investment from Japan than any other state in the country other than California. We don’t want to create something that would damage that,” he said.
The bill’s sponsors are Rep. John Ragan, R-Oak Ridge, and Sen. Ed Jackson, R-Jackson.