The Republican-controlled House wants to make it easier to sue the president for not doing his job

Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

The Republican-controlled House wants to make it easier to sue the president for not doing his job
(Image credit: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

If you can't beat 'em, join 'em. And if you can't join 'em, then pass a law to make it easier to sue the pants off 'em.

On Wednesday, the House of Representatives passed a bill that would fast track civil suits brought by lawmakers against the president. The measure, which passed by a near-party line vote of 233-181, would allow House or Senate members who believe the president isn't fully enforcing all laws to file suit in federal district court and appeal directly to the Supreme Court.

"The Constitution gives Congress the responsibility to write the laws and the executive to enforce them," said Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.). "We don't pass suggestions. We don't pass ideas. We pass laws."

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The Obama administration's numerous delays of pieces of ObamaCare, critics say, are indicative of the president's selective approach to law enforcement. And that argument is why Republicans have backed away from immigration reform, saying the president can't be trusted to enforce every border security provision, so there's no point dealing with him at all on the issue.

The Senate has no intention of taking up the measure, and even if it were to reach Obama's desk, it's a safe bet that he wouldn't sign it.

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Jon Terbush

Jon Terbush is an associate editor at TheWeek.com covering politics, sports, and other things he finds interesting. He has previously written for Talking Points Memo, Raw Story, and Business Insider.