Thursday, August 18, 2005

TN Governor Sues Rumsfeld (!)

According to the Nashville City Paper, Governor Bredesen (D) was to "officially file a lawsuit against Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld this afternoon."

Well, he's still not getting my vote, but this is one (and the only) thing I can actually applaud the DINO for.

Now if only the Governor would sue Bush, I'd reconsider.

Bredesen is suing on grounds that Rumsfeld is planning to realign a Nashville-based National Guard unit without Bredesen’s approval.

The unit to be realigned is the 118th Airlift Wing of the Tennessee Air National Guard, stationed near the Nashville International Airport. The Defense Department recommended the 118th’s disbursement to the Base Closure and Reassignment Commission in May.

The 118th houses eight C-130 cargo planes and about 700 personnel.

Bredesen says it's against federal law for an Air National Guard unit to be relocated or withdrawn from a state without consent or approval from the governor. The lawsuit to be filed by the end of the week seeks to enforce the rights of the governor as commander-in-chief of the Tennessee National Guard.

The governors of Pennsylvania and Illinois have filed similar lawsuits, and Bredesen said others are considering such action.