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TIMELINE for the Georgia-Tennessee border dispute

Georgia will dissolve its border line commission and direct Gov. Sonny Perdue to negotiate directly with Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen.

The commission was formed in February to look into claims that the Georgia’s northern border with Tennessee was drawn too far south in an 1818 survey.

Georgia lawmakers will not be giving up on its fight to see the disputed border moved 1.1 miles northward and deeper into Tennessee.

Rep. Martin Scott of Rossville said of the new measure to resolve the dispute, “No matter how we pursue the issue, it is time we settle the matter.”

In February Georgia lawmakers decided to revive the debate over the long-disputed border.

In an amendment that is expected to pass the Georgia General Assembly on Friday (April 4), Sen. David Shafer of Duluth is calling for the decommission of the border line commission that his bill originally called for and replace it with a mandate allowing Gov. Perdue to negotiate directly with Bredesen.

This move comes upon the heels of the Tennessee legislature’s decision to ignore Georgia’s disputed border claim and refuse to name its own border line commission to negotiate the matter.

Scott said the move to give Gov. Perdue the ability to negotiate with the Tennessee governor, with oversight from the Georgia legislature, is a good idea.

Some news reports have said the two governors briefly shared words over the matter several weeks ago, leading Bredesen to say he won’t negotiate Tennessee’s border or its water resources from the Tennessee River.

Many are speculating as to whether Bredesen will accept the invitation of the Georgia governor to further discuss the matter.

If Bredesen refuses to negotiate, Shafer’s amendment, if passed, will allow Georgia’s attorney general to file suit in the U.S. Supreme Court.

Scott said it is time to settle the matter, even if it means taking it to the nation’s highest court.

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