Court ruling on NLRB appointees hailed by Tennessee senators

Tennessee senators applauded a court ruling Friday to strike down two recess appointments to the National Labor Relations Board made by President Barack Obama last year. 

Last January, Obama appointed three members to the board, which oversees American labor unions. Obama also used his executive powers to appoint Richard Cordray to head the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, a move that had been previously blocked by GOP Senate members.

The court ruled that Congress had been in a pro forma session when Obama made his NLRB appointments, thus rendering them unconstitutional and invalid. The court did not rule on the validity of Cordray's recess appointment. 

Upon news of the ruling, Sen. Lamar Alexander issued a statement calling on the board members to resign. 

"These individuals should resign from the board immediately because no decision in which they participate can be valid," Alexander said. "This judgment is proof that the administration defied the Constitution's separation of powers and its concept of checks and balances, which are the guard against an imperial presidency."

Sen. Bob Corker issued a brief comment on the decision. 

"This ruling is a huge victory for all who believe in balance of power and rule of law," Corker said. 

Although congressmen from the Chattanooga area did not comment on Friday's ruling, Rep. Chuck Fleischmann said he was "vehemently opposed" to the appointments last year.