House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) is considering filing a lawsuit against President Barack Obama’s executive actions, in what could conceivably turn into a consequential showdown between the legislative and executive branches.
The Speaker’s intentions, conveyed to House Republicans in a conference meeting on Tuesday, and first reported by Roll Call, were confirmed to TPM by Boehner spokesman Michael Steel. No decisions are official yet; Steel didn’t say what executive actions may be challenged or when the lawsuit may be filed.
Steel told Roll Call that Obama “has a clear record of ignoring the American people’s elected representatives and exceeding his constitutional authority” and that the Republican House majority, having failed to gain Senate approval for legislation to address its concerns, is “examining other options.”
Obama’s executive actions have become a cornerstone of his agenda in recent years amid unprecedented gridlock in Congress. Among other things, the president has used his executive power to let young undocumented immigrants remain in the U.S. temporarily and propose rules to curb climate-warming emissions from coal-fired power plans.
