Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-OH) confirmed to reporters that he plans to file a lawsuit against President Obama on behalf of the House for his repeated use of executive action, reports Roll Call.
“This is about defending the institution in which we serve,” Boehner said Wednesday. “What we’ve seen clearly over the last five years is an effort to erode the power of the legislative branch. I believe the president is not faithfully executing the laws of our country, and behalf of the institution and our constitution, standing up and fighting for this is in the best long-term interest of the Congress.”
He didn’t specify which executive actions he plans to target, but the possibilities are endless. Obama has prevented hundreds of thousands of immigrants who arrived in the United States as children from being deported, extended family leave benefits to same-sex couples, hiked minimum pay for federal contract workers and made multiple changes Obamacare, all by using his executive power.
Boehner said that, though he doesn’t want to impeach Obama, he believes the president is ignoring Congress’ passed laws.
Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), ever the Obama fan, disagrees with Boehner and told reporters she will not likely vote for such a challenge to Obama’s executive power.
“They’re doing nothing here and they have to give some aura of activity,” Pelosi complained of Congress. “Not only have they not passed an immigration bill, they have used the president’s actions to protect some vulnerable parties as a basis to sue the president.”
On Tuesday, Obama obliviously joked that Boehner is one of his two “favorite golf partners.” As of today, the president might need another favorite golf partner … and a lawyer.
