Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam talks about his Plan to Expand Medicaid to the editorial staff of the Times Free Press. 
Herbert Slatery speaks about his appointment as attorney general in the Tennessee Supreme Court chamber in Nashville on Sept. 15.NASHVILLE -- Republican Gov. Bill Haslam is backing Tennessee Attorney General Herbert Slatery's decision to join a multistate lawsuit aimed at blocking President Barack Obama's executive order on illegal immigrants.
"From what I understood, what they're challenging it on is not on the basis of the immigration deal but more on the basis of can you do that by executive order," Haslam said Monday of Slatery, his former legal counsel. "And I do think that's a legitimate concern."
With Slatery's actions, Tennessee becomes the 25th state -- half of all states -- challenging Obama's executive order. Other states already suing include Georgia and Alabama. All have Republican attorneys general.
Slatery announced earlier Monday that he has notified parties that Tennessee was joining the lawsuit that challenges Obama's actions and charges it "tramples" on portions of the U.S. Constitution.
In his statement, Slatery said Tennessee "cannot sit on the sidelines of this case, when unlawful directives of this magnitude grant lawful presence and other rights such as work permits to such a large number."
Asking a court to review the issue "is the prudent choice, especially when state resources will be taxed under the directives to provide benefits such as unemployment compensation and health care," Slatery said.
Obama came to Nashville earlier this month to sell his controversial action, calling them lawful moves to fix a "broken immigration system" and help people who are a "net plus" both for local economies and communities.
The president's order delays deportations and extends work permits to an estimated 4 million immigrants who are in the U.S. illegally. Those affected would have to have been in the country for at least five years and have children.
Before Slatery's appointment in September by the Tennessee Supreme Court, he was a top aide to Haslam. He became the first Republican attorney general since post-Civil War Reconstruction days.
Haslam said in the Times Free Press interview on Monday that Slatery had not informed him personally of the decision but he had seen the statement.
While noting he doesn't know enough to say for sure if Obama "pushed past his boundaries or not," the governor added:"I will say this. If Herbert [says] it's the right thing to do, he's doing it because he thinks it's the right thing to do and not for any political reason."
At the time of Obama's executive order, Haslam described the move as "kind of rolling a hand grenade in the room." He said Tuesday it harmed a bipartisan effort in Congress to address the millions of immigrants living illegally in the U.S.
The state Supreme Court in September replaced then-Attorney General Bob Cooper, a Democrat, with Slatery. That came following unsuccessful efforts led by Republican Senate Speaker Ron Ramsey to unseat three sitting Democratic justices in the August retention election.
Cooper had refused to join in another effort by mostly Republican attorneys general to challenge Obama's health care law. Cooper defended his decision, saying it would "not have been a wise use of state money."
Contact staff writer Andy Sher at asher@timesfreepress.com or 615-255-0550.