Tennessee lawmakers want to sue Obama over immigration plan

photo State Rep. Andy Holt, R-Dresden, and Sen. Mae Beavers, R-Mt. Juliet are seen in this composite photo.

Two Tennessee state legislators said this morning they are filing a joint resolution asking Gov. Bill Haslam to file a lawsuit against the Obama administration on behalf of the state.

State Rep. Andy Holt, R-Dresden, and Sen. Mae Beavers, R-Mt. Juliet, say the president's immigration plan, which he outlined to the nation Thursday night, is "an illegal usurpation of undelegated power."

"Article II of the United States Constitution is explicitly clear on the powers vested within the Executive Branch. President Obama lacks the authority to execute even the slightest change in policy. The Constitution delegates President Obama the power to make suggestions concerning policy and nothing more," Holt said in a news release.

The two legislators are citing the commandeering of state resources, which would be required to execute the president's executive order, and the lack of enforcement of deportation statutes as warrant for legal recourse.

"President Obama's moves are a dangerous and insidious display of blatant abuse of power. Tennesseans will not stand for it, and I am here to demand the integrity of our Constitution and our state is protected," said Beavers.

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