House GOP Hasn’t Actually Sued Obama Like It Said It Would

House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio defends the work of the GOP during a brief news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, July 31, 2014, as Congress prepares to leave for a five-week summer recess. The i... House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio defends the work of the GOP during a brief news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, July 31, 2014, as Congress prepares to leave for a five-week summer recess. The institutional split of a Republican-led House and Democratic-controlled Senate has added up to inaction, especially in a midterm election year with control of the Senate at stake. Lawmakers have struggled to compromise on a handful of bills to deal with the nation's pressing problems amid overwhelming partisanship. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) MORE LESS
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Remember the much ballyhooed House Republican lawsuit against President Barack Obama for his executive overreach? About that…

Politico reported Friday evening that the lawsuit — which was supposed to challenge Obama’s executive orders regarding Obamacare (and appease the impeachment caucus in the lead-up to the midterm elections) — hasn’t actually been filed yet.

The planned lawsuit was announced this summer and, as Politico reported Friday citing lawyers close to the litigation, it was initially expected to be filed in mid-September.

The lawsuit now isn’t expected to be filed until after the elections, Politico’s sources said. One possible factor? It would have motivated Democratic voters to turn out at the polls.

An August poll found that 88 percent of Democrats said the litigation would make them more likely to vote for a Democrat in the upcoming election.

The lawsuit has also undergone some behind-the-scenes turmoil. As TPM reported on Sept. 19, the first private lawyer retained by Republicans to handle the lawsuit backed out under pressure from other clients.

Boehner’s office would not comment in detail Friday on the delay. “No decisions on timing at this point,” a spokesperson told Politico.

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Notable Replies

  1. They must be busy working on the Republican’s healthcare plan.

  2. It would have motivated Democratic voters to turn out at the polls.

    Many of us are already motivated. (Sharpens knife menacingly.)

  3. That does it!!!

    #ConservativesBoycott2014

  4. But the House is still retaining a private lawyer during this downtime?
    What a sweet gig! Waiting around, collecting fees, living off of government largesse. Careful though, I hear that too much govt largesse will drive you into suicide.

  5. From your mouth to God’s ears…

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