Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to the rule for H.R 4138, The ENFORCE The Law Act of 2014 and the underlying bill. H.R. 4138 purports to provide a mechanism for one House of Congress to enforce the ``take care'' clause in article II, section 3 of the United States Constitution, which requires the President to ``take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed.'' The bill authorizes either chamber of Congress to bring a civil action against the executive branch for failure to faithfully execute existing laws. My colleagues on the other side argue that lawsuits by Congress to force the administration to enforce federal laws will prevent the president from exceeding his constitutional authority, But the Supreme Court has constantly held that the exercise of executive discretion being taken by President Obama is within the president's powers under the Constitution. That is why I offered an amendment to the bill that simply protects the ability of the Executive Branch to comply with judicial decisions interpreting the Constitution or Federal laws. It is hard to believe that I would even need an amendment which instructs the Executive Branch that it is okay to--ENFORCE THE LAW. If separation-of-powers principles require anything, it is that each branch must respect its constitutional role. When a court issues a decision interpreting the Constitution or a federal law, the other branches must abide by the decision.…”