Lawmakers Appeal Refugee Resettlement Decision

Tennessee lawmakers are appealing a judge’s dismissal of their lawsuit against the federal government over the refugee resettlement program.
The Thomas More Law Center, which says it’s working for free on behalf of the General Assembly, filed a notice of appeal Thursday to the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
The lawsuit filed in March 2017 argued the refugee program is forcing the state to spend money on additional services, including health care and education.
A judge ruled this March that it’s speculative for Tennessee to contend it might lose $7 billion annually in federal Medicaid money if it refuses to spend state money on refugee services through Medicaid.
The lawsuit didn’t have the backing of state Attorney General Herbert Slatery or Republican Gov. Bill Haslam.