House v. Obama? It's On

Lawmakers to vote on measure to sue the president.

Bringing It - On July 30, the U.S. House of Representatives is set to vote on a measure to pursue a taxpayer-funded lawsuit against President Obama. Everyone wins except the American public. During their five-week summer recess, Republican lawmakers can go home and tell voters they're sticking it to Obama, while Democrats can use it to convince their supporters that hurting the president is a greater priority than supporting them. Here's the who, what and why. —Joyce Jones (@BETpolitichick) (Photo: Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

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Bringing It - On July 30, the U.S. House of Representatives is set to vote on a measure to pursue a taxpayer-funded lawsuit against President Obama. Everyone wins except the American public. During their five-week summer recess, Republican lawmakers can go home and tell voters they're sticking it to Obama, while Democrats can use it to convince their supporters that hurting the president is a greater priority than supporting them. Here's the who, what and why. —Joyce Jones (@BETpolitichick) (Photo: Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

Why Are House Republicans Suing Obama? - Republicans are angered by President Obama's decision and determination to act on his own when possible on issues such as immigration and minimum wage. The court case, however, will center on the president's decision to defer the employer mandate in the Affordable Care Act to provide health insurance.   (Photo: Carolyn Kaster, File/AP Photo)

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Why Are House Republicans Suing Obama? - Republicans are angered by President Obama's decision and determination to act on his own when possible on issues such as immigration and minimum wage. The court case, however, will center on the president's decision to defer the employer mandate in the Affordable Care Act to provide health insurance. (Photo: Carolyn Kaster, File/AP Photo)

Boehner's Take - "Given the groundbreaking nature of this legal action, we want to assert our clearest constitutional position. The fact we agree with a change that should have been made in law makes this case clearer to the court," wrote House Speaker John Boehner in an op-ed published on July 27 in USA Today. "I oppose the employer mandate in the president's health care law. The House of Representatives has voted to delay or eliminate it (and we will do so again if we prevail in court). But it is the letter of the law that was passed by Congress and signed by President Obama. He simply cannot unilaterally rewrite it." (Photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images)

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Boehner's Take - "Given the groundbreaking nature of this legal action, we want to assert our clearest constitutional position. The fact we agree with a change that should have been made in law makes this case clearer to the court," wrote House Speaker John Boehner in an op-ed published on July 27 in USA Today. "I oppose the employer mandate in the president's health care law. The House of Representatives has voted to delay or eliminate it (and we will do so again if we prevail in court). But it is the letter of the law that was passed by Congress and signed by President Obama. He simply cannot unilaterally rewrite it." (Photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images)

See Ya Later, Alligator! - In a change of schedule, the House has adjourned until after the midterm elections. It canceled a scheduled Sept. 19 workday and their Sept. 29 return for one week. It's off to the races!  (Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

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After the Vote - The House will likely vote to approve the lawsuit by party lines. Then a federal judge will decide whether the case has legal standing. If he or she believes that it does, lawyers for the Obama administration and the House will each make their case in federal court. The judicial process could take months to resolve.  (Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

What Are the Odds? - At a House Rules Committee hearing held to debate its merits, experts had opposing views. “When a president unilaterally waives, delays or suspends a law such as the ACA, he squelches any opportunity to have a robust, political debate about the workability of the law, and thereby undermines democracy itself,” said Elizabeth Price Foley, a professor of law at Florida International University College of Law. But according to Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Massachusetts), House GOP leaders are pushing the measure to appease Republican "cuckoo clocks" who would rather impeach the president.   (Photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images) 

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What Are the Odds? - At a House Rules Committee hearing held to debate its merits, experts had opposing views. “When a president unilaterally waives, delays or suspends a law such as the ACA, he squelches any opportunity to have a robust, political debate about the workability of the law, and thereby undermines democracy itself,” said Elizabeth Price Foley, a professor of law at Florida International University College of Law. But according to Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Massachusetts), House GOP leaders are pushing the measure to appease Republican "cuckoo clocks" who would rather impeach the president. (Photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images) 

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A Political Stunt? - "Their big idea has been to sue me," the president said during remarks delivered in nearby McLean, Virginia. "That's what they're spending time on — a political stunt that wastes America's time and taxpayer dollars."    (Photo: Jewel Samad/AFP/Getty Images) 

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A Political Stunt? - "Their big idea has been to sue me," the president said during remarks delivered in nearby McLean, Virginia. "That's what they're spending time on — a political stunt that wastes America's time and taxpayer dollars."  (Photo: Jewel Samad/AFP/Getty Images) 

True That - "It's a stunt and an effort to try to make the president look bad. It's about distraction and while thy are distracting us and people are talking about the suit, jobs are not being created. They're basically doing nothing to help the American people," said Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Maryland). "It's not going to go anywhere. It's a bunch of crap. Quote me on that."    (Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

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True That - "It's a stunt and an effort to try to make the president look bad. It's about distraction and while thy are distracting us and people are talking about the suit, jobs are not being created. They're basically doing nothing to help the American people," said Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Maryland). "It's not going to go anywhere. It's a bunch of crap. Quote me on that."  (Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

It's Going to Get Serious - "This is very serious, and it is going to go somewhere. It may not go to a jury but it goes before a judge. And the fact that this is the speaker of the House bringing the action, it's going to get prime time," said Rep. G.K. Butterfield (D-North Carolina), a former judge.  (Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) 

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It's Going to Get Serious - "This is very serious, and it is going to go somewhere. It may not go to a jury but it goes before a judge. And the fact that this is the speaker of the House bringing the action, it's going to get prime time," said Rep. G.K. Butterfield (D-North Carolina), a former judge. (Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) 

Di Minimus - "If the president's decision to [extend the employer mandate] is a violation, it is certainly di minimus, which means it won't be recognized by a court; it's insignificant in the scheme of things," said Butterfield. "There are a lot of members who don't like President Obama and will do anything to discredit him but I don't believe the House will authorize a frivolous lawsuit."    (Photo: Tom Williams/Roll Call)

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Di Minimus - "If the president's decision to [extend the employer mandate] is a violation, it is certainly di minimus, which means it won't be recognized by a court; it's insignificant in the scheme of things," said Butterfield. "There are a lot of members who don't like President Obama and will do anything to discredit him but I don't believe the House will authorize a frivolous lawsuit."  (Photo: Tom Williams/Roll Call)

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Rule 11 - "If you bring a lawsuit that's proven to be frivolous you yourself can be made to bear the cost of the litigation. I think Obama needs to assert a Rule 11 against the speaker and make him personally responsible for the expenses of the litigation," Butterfield added. (Photo: Getty Images)

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Who's Scamming Whom? - White House senior adviser Dan Pfeiffer has publicly speculated that the lawsuit is the first step toward impeaching Obama, a notion that Boehner has decried as a scam. "It's all a scam started by Democrats at the White House. This whole talk about impeachment is coming from the president's own staff and coming from Democrats on Capitol Hill. Why? Because they're trying to rally their people to give money and to show up in this year's election," the speaker said. "We have no plans to impeach the president."    (Photo: J. Scott Applewhite/AP Photo)

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Who's Scamming Whom? - White House senior adviser Dan Pfeiffer has publicly speculated that the lawsuit is the first step toward impeaching Obama, a notion that Boehner has decried as a scam. "It's all a scam started by Democrats at the White House. This whole talk about impeachment is coming from the president's own staff and coming from Democrats on Capitol Hill. Why? Because they're trying to rally their people to give money and to show up in this year's election," the speaker said. "We have no plans to impeach the president."  (Photo: J. Scott Applewhite/AP Photo)

Turnabout Is Fair Play - "Through consistent obstruction, dysfunction and a steadfast unwillingness to serve the American people, Republican leadership continues to abuse their power while they demean and disgrace this House. When will they recognize that by attempting to damage the president's leadership and his legacy, they are only hurting the people they are sworn to serve?" said Congressional Black Caucus chairwoman Rep. Marcia Fudge in remarks delivered from the House floor. "The president should sue the Congress for not doing their job!" (Photo: CSPAN)

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Turnabout Is Fair Play - "Through consistent obstruction, dysfunction and a steadfast unwillingness to serve the American people, Republican leadership continues to abuse their power while they demean and disgrace this House. When will they recognize that by attempting to damage the president's leadership and his legacy, they are only hurting the people they are sworn to serve?" said Congressional Black Caucus chairwoman Rep. Marcia Fudge in remarks delivered from the House floor. "The president should sue the Congress for not doing their job!" (Photo: CSPAN)

This Is Getting Serious - The House moved one step closer to filing a lawsuit against Obama when the Rules Committee voted 7-4 to send the proposal to the floor for a vote. Could an attempt impeach the president be far behind? “I think Speaker Boehner, by going down the path of this lawsuit, has opened the door to Republicans possibly considering impeachment at some point in the future,” said White House senior adviser Dan Pfeiffer. According to a new CNN/ORC poll, nearly two-thirds said they oppose impeachment, but 57 percent of Republicans, 35 percent of independents and 13 percent of Democrats support the idea.(Photo: David McNew/Getty Images)

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Americans Are Not in the Mood - In a CNN/ORC survey released on July 25, 57 percent of Americans said House Republicans should not file the lawsuit. In addition, nearly two-thirds said they do not believe the president should be impeached. (Photo: David McNew/Getty Images)