MEMPHIS, TN (abc24.com) - Lawmakers are weighing in on the federal judge's ruling that creating municipal schools was unconstitutional. Democrats and Republicans are dissecting the judge's decision, and both sides are trying to figure out their next move when the legislative session starts in January.
Representative Ron Lollar (R-Bartlett) and other lawmakers are keeping quiet when it comes to particulars for getting new legislation passed that would allow the Memphis suburbs to create their own school systems.
"Keep in mind for every attorney that has one opinion there are several attorneys who have other opinions. So what we have to do is step back look at what he ruled and look what course of action we want to take," Lollar stated.
A federal judge ruled a portion of the law that would have allowed the suburbs to form their own school systems unconstitutional. The judge has yet to rule on the constitutionality of what was called the original Norris-Todd law.
State Rep. G.A. Hardaway (D-Memphis) wasn't surprised with the ruling.
"At some point we got into legislative hoaxes," he said. "You've got to follow the constitution and we're not going to have any of the 'cute' legislation put out as law in the future."
Hardaway and others are calling for Shelby County lawmakers - Republican and Democrat - to work together.
"We're being pushed by different extremes and special interests one way or another instead of giving proper leadership that should be considering our power as state legislators," Hardaway said.
But taking the politics out of this political hot potato won't be easy, especially for Democrats in the Republican controlled legislature.
State Senator Jim Kyle (D-Memphis) noted, "The challenge for Democrats is for it not to go Democrat-Republican in Nashville because we will lose."
