Rep. Trey Gowdy, South Carolina’s fiery conservative, took to the House floor to deliver an impassioned speech that brought on cheers and applause from fellow lawmakers, telling them that the time has surely come to rein in President Obama via the constitutional power of the purse.
“It’s about damn time” that Congress invokes this right, he said, BizPac Review reported. “This is not a fight between Republicans and Democrats. This is not even a fight over immigration reform. This is a fight over whether this branch of government will ever find the courage to stand up for itself.”
He made the remarks as the House took a vote to block funding for Mr. Obama’s executive action to grant amnesty to illegals. The vote passed the House 236-191, but now must meet the muster of the Senate and survive a likely presidential veto.
“The same document that this and all the presidents swear to defend gives this body certain tools,” he said, BizPac Review reported. “Tools like the power of the purse, and it’s about damn time we use that tool.”
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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