Rep. Calvert Votes to Challenge President Obama’s Executive Overreach

Today, Congressman Ken Calvert (CA-42) voted along with a majority of his House colleagues (225-201) for House Resolution 676, which authorizes litigation to challenge the constitutionality of Executive Orders issued by President Obama.

"Our imperial president continues to turn the Constitution on its head by regularly overstepping the powers granted to the Executive Branch," said Rep. Calvert. "I took an oath to defend and uphold the Constitution, which is exactly why I support the action taken by the House today to challenge President Obama's misuse of executive orders. If the President is not happy with the laws on the books or the steps being taken by Congress, he needs to come to the table and work with the duly elected members of the legislative branch to craft new laws. That's simply how our democracy works – and something I would have hoped the President would have already learned after being in office for more than five and a half years."

House Resolution 676 authorizes the Speaker of the House to initiate or intervene in one or more civil actions on behalf of the House of Representatives in federal court. The resolution authorizes the Speaker to seek the appropriate relief regarding the failure of the President to act in a manner consistent with that official's duties under the Constitution and U.S. laws with respect to implementation title 1 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act or subtitle B of title II of the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, including amendment(s) made by such provision or any other related provision of law, including failure to implement. The resolution also directs the Office of the General Counsel of the House of Representatives to represent the House in any civil action initiated or in which the House.

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