House Republicans to sue Obama over employer mandate in Obamacare
(CNN) - House Republicans are going forward with plans to sue President Barack Obama and will base their legal case on the sweeping health care law he championed and they despise.
Speaker John Boehner said the suit will follow the argument Obama violated the Constitution by circumventing Congress and changing the law's employer mandate on his own.
"In 2013, the President changed the health care law without a vote of Congress, effectively creating his own law by literally waiving the employer mandate and the penalties for failing to comply with it," Boehner said in a statement.
"That's not the way our system of government was designed to work. No president should have the power to make laws on his or her own," he added.
The Republican-led House is expected to vote on a resolution authorizing legal action against the President at month's end.
The White House expressed disappointment in a statement, saying Boehner and Republicans are wasting time, taxpayer resources on a "political stunt."
Is Obamacare a massive jobs killer?
Is Obamacare a massive jobs killer?
The man who said Obamacare could cut the labor force by the equivalent of 2.5 million jobs was in the hot seat on Capitol Hill.
The Director of the Congressional Budget Office seeming to hit home runs for the Republicans.
REP. PAUL RYAN (R-WI): Just to understand this, it is not that employers are laying people off, but that people aren't working in the work force, aren't supply labor to the equivalent of 2.5 million jobs in 2024, and as a result work force participation rate, less labor supply lowers economic growth.
DOUG ELMENDORF, CBO: That is right, Mr. Chairman.
And for the Democrats:
CHRIS VAN HOLLEN (D-MD): So when you boost demand for labor in this kind of economy, you actually reduce the unemployment rate because those people who were looking for work can find more work, right?
DOUG ELMENDORF, CBO: Yes. That's right.
OutFront: Congressman Chris Van Hollen, the top Democrat on the House Budget Committee.
Will Obamacare cost 2.5 million jobs?
According to the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office, the President's signature health care law could reduce the labor force by 2.5 million.
Republicans immediately pounced.
"The CBO report today – devastating. Two million fewer jobs as a result of the Obama health care law," U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-WY) said.
Not spin. Fact. pic.twitter.com/gTmuyQiQVe
— NRCC (@NRCC) February 4, 2014
But, not surprisingly Democrats are crying foul.
"The Republicans talk about losing millions of jobs simply isn't true," Senate Majority leader Harry Reid (D-NV) said.
Another Republican talking point debunked –> Washington Post: No, CBO did not say Obamacare will kill 2 million jobs http://t.co/CNTBGrpIvT
— DCCC (@dccc) February 4, 2014
So how damaging is this report to President Obama?
OutFront: CNN Political Commentator Paul Begala and the Editor of The Weekly Standard, Bill Kristol.
White house extends Obamacare deadline... again
The deadline for signing up for Obamacare has been effectively extended by another day, the Obama administration said Monday.
The delay means many Americans now have until midnight tomorrow to sign up for healthcare coverage that starts January first.
If you don't have insurance, and don't sign up by this deadline, you could face a fine.
This is just the latest in a series of delays in the implementation of the President's signature healthcare legislation.
Obamacare deadline extended by one day
OutFront: Democratic Strategist Maria Cardona and Republican Strategist Ana Navarro.
Obama's biggest mistake of 2013: "We screwed up" the health care rollout
President Obama, along with his family, left Washington Friday for the holidays, leaving behind a tough year of all-time low approval ratings, a botched healthcare rollout and a government snooping scandal.
But before the president left town, he held his last press conference of 2013.
Obama says 2013 wasn't worst of presidency
His first question out of the gate.
JULIE PACE, AP: "Has this been the worst year of your presidency?"
BARACK OBAMA: [laughs] I have to tell you Julie, that is not how I think about it. I have now been in office close to five years. I was running for president for two years before that, and for those of you who covered me during that time we have had ups and we have had downs. I think this room has probably recorded at least 15 near-death experiences and what I’ve been focused on each and every day is are we moving the ball in helping the American people, families, have more opportunity and have a little more security, to feel as if, if they work hard can they get ahead.
OutFront: Sean Spicer, Communications Director for the Republican National Committee, Ben Lablt, Press Secretary for Obama's 2013 campaign, and A.B. Stoddard, the Associate Editor of "The Hill."
