By a vote of 227-195, the House voted to move forward with John Boehner’s lawsuit against President Obama.
The debate before the vote featured Democrats calling the lawsuit stupid and a waste of time, while Republicans claimed that they had no idea what the Democrats were talking about.
Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MA) said that the lawsuit was an attempt to placate the birthers and the tea partiers, but they will never be satisfied. He also said that Republicans are devastated that the ACA is working. McGovern said, “This is show business at its worst. Enough of this stupidity.”
Rep. G.K. Butterfield (D-NC) called Boehner’s lawsuit an abuse of power. He said, “I know what you’re doing. The American people know what you are doing. You are using this lawsuit in your neverending campaign to discredit President Obama.”
Democratic Leader Pelosi (D-CA) asked why John Boehner hasn’t said that impeachment is off the table. She said that the House has precious few hours before they go on a five week vacation, but Republicans are putting the needs of special interests and those who want impeachment ahead of the nation. Later Pelosi said, “If you don’t want your people saying impeachment then tell them that impeachment is off the table. That’s what I had to do.”
Rep. Rich Nugent (R-FL) claimed that he had no idea what the Democrats were talking about, and blamed Senate Democrats for House Republicans wasting time on suing President Obama instead of passing legislation.
This lawsuit is doomed. Republicans are arguing that the lawsuit is about making a stand and showing that the House is relevant. The problem is that it isn’t Barack Obama who made the House irrelevant. John Boehner’s inability to control his own caucus.
The great irony is that Speaker Boehner has done more to fire up Democrats than he has to inspire Republicans. The public opposition to this move has been widely known, but House Republicans only care about what will play well back home in their own gerrymandered districts. The Obama lawsuit is a diversion. House Republicans don’t want the country to see the horrible job that they have done.
The House vote was historic for all of the wrong reasons. This is how the legislative process should never operate. The lawsuit will be tossed out of court, but not before millions of taxpayer dollars are wasted. The lawsuit has been a godsend for Democrats, and this vote today made the Boehner lawsuit the political gift that will keep on giving.
Awards and Professional Memberships
Member of the Society of Professional Journalists and The American Political Science Association
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