From Aamer Madhani, the National Journal:  A bipartisan group of lawmakers has filed a federal lawsuit against President Obama and Defense Secretary Robert Gates, asking a court to prevent the administration from using U.S. funds for military action in Libya.

The lead plaintiffs, Rep. Dennis Kucinich, D-Ohio, and Rep. Walter Jones, R-N.C., filed the lawsuit at U.S. District Court in Washington on Wednesday afternoon, as the White House prepared to deliver a report to Congress to address a June 3 House resolution calling for Obama to answer what his ultimate goals are in Libya and why he hadn’t sought congressional authorization for U.S. troop involvement. . . .

In addition to Kucinich and Jones, the plaintiffs are Democratic Reps. Michael Capuano of Massachusetts and John Conyers of Michigan; and Republican Reps. Roscoe Bartlett of Maryland, Dan Burton of Indiana, Howard Coble of North Carolina, John Duncan of Tennessee, Tim Johnson of Illinois, and Ron Paul of Texas. . . .

Among the arguments made in the 36-page lawsuit, the lawmakers contend that the president violated the law by going to war in Libya without a declaration of war from Congress as required by the War Powers Resolution. They also argue that the administration is violating the North Atlantic Treaty, which “allows only for military actions in defense of a member state” and requires that any U.S. involvement in a NATO action occur only in “accordance with [the] respective constitutional processes” of the United States.  (photo composite: Getty)