Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wisc.) is tired of the President doing the job of Congress, describing Barack Obama’s presidency as “lawless” on Sunday morning.
In an interview with George Stephanopoulos, Ryan expressed his frustration with Obama’s way of doing business. The host pointed out that previous Presidents, such as Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush, has actually issued more executive orders. The Wisconsin Congressman countered that it was the “scope” of Obama’s executive orders that mattered, not the number.
“We have an increasingly lawless presidency, where he is actually doing the job of Congress, writing new policies and new laws, without going through Congress…” Ryan said. “Executive orders are one thing, but executive orders that actually change the statute, that’s totally different.”
Ryan pointed to the President’s selective implementation of Obamacare as an example of this ‘lawlessness.’ Stephanopoulos asked if Ryan would then move to impeach Obama. The Congressman said he would not, but stressed his concern.
“But I’m concerned about this trend, such as what he said at the State of the Union, that if Congress doesn’t give me the law I want, I’m going to do it myself…” Ryan said. “These executive orders are creating a dangerous trend that is contrary to the Constitution.”
The President has had a steady pattern of one, sometimes two, executive orders per month over the last year. Just last month, he signed a new executive order adjusting the minimum wage of certain workers working on government contracts to $10.10 per hour.
After explaining his new executive action during his address Tuesday, the President threatened to take even more action to push his agenda.
“Wherever and whenever I can take steps without legislation to expand opportunity for more American families, that’s what I’m going to do,” Obama said.
This wasn’t his first threat. In response to the gridlock in Congress earlier this month, the President said that he had a pen and a phone. A pen that could sign executive orders to get things going and a phone to convene Americans on themes that he finds unifying. Not long after that, the President said that 2014 will be a year of action.
“Where Congress isn’t acting, I’ll act on my own,” he promised.
