Boehner: Obama Must Be Challenged in Court

President Barack Obama's flippant dismissal of the Constitution must be challenged, House Speaker John Boehner said in a CNN opinion piece Sunday, explaining why he and fellow Republicans will bring legislation to the House floor that will allow a lawsuit be filed against him.

All members of Congress swear an oath to protect and defend the Constitution, said the Ohio Republican, and so did Obama.

"But too often over the past five years, the president has circumvented the American people and their elected representatives through executive action, changing and creating his own laws, and excusing himself from enforcing statutes he is sworn to uphold," wrote Boehner, "At times even boasting about his willingness to do it, as if daring the American people to stop him."

Boehner said the president's response to the news has even been "disappointing" when he said, "So sue me."

"What's disappointing is the President's flippant dismissal of the Constitution we are both sworn to defend," said Boehner. "It is utterly beneath the dignity of the office. I know the president is frustrated. I'm frustrated. The American people are frustrated, too."

But Americans are still asking where the jobs are, as Washington's Democrats, led by Obama, won't advance the more than 40 jobs bills approved by the house, he explained.

"The president's habit of ignoring the law as written hurts our economy and jobs even more," said Boehner. "Washington taxes and regulations always make it harder for private sector employers to meet payrolls, invest in new initiatives and create jobs — but how can those employers plan, invest and grow when the laws are changing on the President's whim at any moment?"

The Constitution mandates that the president's job is to faithfully execute laws, and "the president has not faithfully executed the laws when it comes to a range of issues, including his healthcare law, energy regulations, foreign policy and education," wrote Boehner.

And since the Constitution outlines the duties of the three branches of government, Boehner said it is the duty of the House to stand up.

"If you look back over American history, there has always been a tension between the inherent powers of the executive branch versus the inherent powers of the legislative branch," said Boehner. "This issue is as old as Marbury vs. Madison and as fresh as the unanimous Supreme Court ruling last week that the president overstepped his authority on recess appointments."

But over the past five years, Boehner said, Obama has continued to overstep his authority, especially after Democrats lost the House majority.

"The legislative branch has an obligation to defend the rights and responsibilities of the American people, and America's constitutional balance of powers — before it is too late," he concluded.

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