Tennessee Says No Talks With Georgia

The center of the conflict is the 200 year old Tennessee-Georgia border which some lawmakers in the peach State would like to move a mile north.

Tennessee lawmakers, unsure of Georgia's intentions, have decided to draft a resolution putting the state on record as opposing any discussion of changing its southern border. This follows by a few days a move in Atlanta seeking to begin formal talks to that end. State Rep. Vince Dean of East Ridge says he's taking the challenge seriously.

ST. REP. VINCE DEAN, (R) EAST RIDGE "I haven't noticed the people from Georgia laughing about it..if they are, so be it..I'm taking it seriously in that it would be taking our property and I don't like that."

The current border was set 200 years ago. But, Georgia says the state line should be the 35th parrallel, about a mile north, which would include Representative Dean's East Ridge district. It would also put a chunk of South Pittsburg, Nickajack lake and Marion county inside Georgia. The state could do that by appealing directly to the U.S. Supreme court, which handles all state boundary disputes.

Chattanooga lawyer, Andy Berke Represents Marion and Hamilton counties in the state senate.

ST. Sen. ANDY BERKE, (D) DIST. 10 "We are not going to create a joint commission with them to study this issue..because the border has been our border for 200 years...my constituents don't want to live in Georgia, they are perfectly happy in Tennessee."

State Representative Gerald McCormick says it'll never happen because it takes two sides to negotiate and Tennessee is not going to cooperate.

ST. REP. GERALD MCCORMICK (R) CHATTANOOGA "I don't think anyone is taking it seriously, what the Georgia legislature has done..they need to get back to work on some serious issues."

McCormick says those "serious issues" include finding a solution to their water problems.

But, no one is underestimating Georgia's need to do something soon. And, Tennessee apparently has decided not to take any chances.

Lt. Governor Ron Ramsey says there's another way Tennessee can kill any change in state lines...simply by doing nothing.