House Speaker John Boehner has been quietly floating the idea of suing President Obama over alleged excessive abuse of powers and unconstitutional sidestepping of congressionally passed laws.
Mr. Boehner has been outspoken in the past about Mr. Obama’s selective enforcement of laws — especially when it comes to Obamacare and granting exemptions for certain segments of society but not others, The Associated Press reported. Mr. Boehner also accused Mr. Obama of doing the same on immigration.
Spokesman Michael Steel said Mr. Boehner has told congressional colleagues that a lawsuit aimed at scaling back the president’s powers is possible, AP said. Neither Mr. Steel nor Mr. Boehner provided further details.
But Mr. Steel did say that the House has tried twice before to curb Mr. Obama’s executive actions with legislation, only to see the measures die in the Democrat-controlled Senate.
A lawsuit against the president initiated by the House would likely prove a drawn-out affair, given the constitutional extension of separate-but-equal powers onto those branches of government.
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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