A U.S. judge on Thursday blasted the Obama administrations motion to dismiss a lawsuit brought by Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives over the implementation of the Democratic presidents signature healthcare law.
Republicans in the House filed a lawsuit in November saying administration officials unlawfully bypassed Congress.
At issue are executive changes authorizing Treasury payments to healthcare insurers without the funding being agreed by Congress and delaying implementation of the laws employer mandate which required employers with more than 50 employees to provide healthcare coverage.
U.S. District Judge Rosemary Collyer appointed by Obamas predecessor Republican George W. Bush repeatedly interrupted U.S. Justice Department lawyer Joel McElvain during the hearing in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.
Justice Department lawyers argue that the House lacks standing to sue citing a section of U.S. law that means the House would have to prove it has been directly harmed.
So it is your position that if the House of Representatives affirmatively voted not to fund something ... then that vote can be ignored by the administration because after all no one can sue them? she asked.
McElvain argued that the merits of the case were not being discussed at the hearing and that any perceived injury was abstract.
Im not asking you to give me your brief. I want you to explain ... why its not an insult to the Constitution? Collyer said.
McElvain argued that the House could pass new legislation if it disagreed with the administrations changes which he said were legal under pre-existing permanent appropriation.
At another point Collyer admonished McElvain: You cant just shake your head and not deal with the question.
The lawsuit is one of a flurry filed against the Obama administration in the past few months challenging executive actions on healthcare and immigration as Republicans seek to amp up pressure on the president.
Jonathan Turley a lawyer for the House Republicans said the lawsuit should go forward to show the power of the purse should not be decorative.
The judge while appearing sympathetic to the Republicans decision to bring the lawsuit said she had not yet decided on the standing issue before her.
A U.S. judge on Thursday blasted the Obama administrations motion to dismiss a lawsuit brought by Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives over the implementation of the Democratic presidents signature healthcare law.
Republicans in the House filed a lawsuit in November saying administration officials unlawfully bypassed Congress.
At issue are executive changes authorizing Treasury payments to healthcare insurers without the funding being agreed by Congress and delaying implementation of the laws employer mandate which required employers with more than 50 employees to provide healthcare coverage.
U.S. District Judge Rosemary Collyer appointed by Obamas predecessor Republican George W. Bush repeatedly interrupted U.S. Justice Department lawyer Joel McElvain during the hearing in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.
Justice Department lawyers argue that the House lacks standing to sue citing a section of U.S. law that means the House would have to prove it has been directly harmed.
So it is your position that if the House of Representatives affirmatively voted not to fund something ... then that vote can be ignored by the administration because after all no one can sue them? she asked.
McElvain argued that the merits of the case were not being discussed at the hearing and that any perceived injury was abstract.
Im not asking you to give me your brief. I want you to explain ... why its not an insult to the Constitution? Collyer said.
McElvain argued that the House could pass new legislation if it disagreed with the administrations changes which he said were legal under pre-existing permanent appropriation.
At another point Collyer admonished McElvain: You cant just shake your head and not deal with the question.
The lawsuit is one of a flurry filed against the Obama administration in the past few months challenging executive actions on healthcare and immigration as Republicans seek to amp up pressure on the president.
Jonathan Turley a lawyer for the House Republicans said the lawsuit should go forward to show the power of the purse should not be decorative.
The judge while appearing sympathetic to the Republicans decision to bring the lawsuit said she had not yet decided on the standing issue before her.
