The House of Representatives has succeeded in authorizing an unprecedented lawsuit against President Barack Obama, which will claim that the president exceeded his constitutional power in his handling of the Affordable Care Act, Reuters reports.
Split along party lines, the 225-201 vote gives House lawyers permission to draft up the necessary legal paperwork while representatives are on their five-week summer break, which starts Friday, the news wire notes.
According to Reuters, it is anticipated that the suit will accuse the nation’s leader of overstepping his power and going around Congress when he made changes to the defining legislation of his presidency, the Affordable Care Act.
“This administration has effectively rewritten the law without following the constitutional process," Rep. Pete Sessions (R-Texas) said.
Obama addressed the lawsuit while at an event in Kansas City, Mo., on Wednesday. “They have announced that they are going to sue me for taking executive actions to help people,” he said, according to NBC News, calling the suit a “political stunt.”
“They’re mad because I’m doing my job … I’ve told them, I’ve said, ‘I’d be happy to do it with you. The only reason I’m doing it on my own is because you’re not doing anything,’” Obama added, pointing out to listeners that it was taxpayers who would have to foot the bill for the lawsuit.
“Stop being mad all the time,” he continued, addressing the House. “Stop just hatin’ all the time. Let’s get some work done.”