TN Leg Tells Thirsty GA to “Deal With Our Lawyers”

Georgia has revived an effort to move its border north by less than two miles so it can tap the Tennessee River. Image courtesy Tennessee River Gorge Trust

Tennessee’s leaders aren’t reacting well to Georgia’s latest attempt to tap into the Tennessee River. In fact, they’re trying to avoid reacting at all.

 

House Majority Leader Gerald McCormick of Chattanooga says he has no intention to move the border north and let Georgia build a pipeline to Atlanta.

“We’re not going to pass a law to give them the water,” he says. “So if they want to go to court they’re going to have to deal with our lawyers, I guess.”

Governor Bill Haslam says in a statement he “will continue to protect the interests and resources of Tennessee.”

The resolution passed this week by Georgia’s legislature allows for a lawsuit to be filed if an agreement can’t be reached by roughly this time next year.

Georgia officials argue the state line was misplaced in 1818. Legal experts say a lawsuit would likely be fast-tracked to the U.S. Supreme Court.