In the latest sign of the hyper-partisan environment that exists in Washington, the Republican-controlled House voted Wednesday evening to approve a resolution authorizing House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, to sue President Barack Obama.
The House voted 225 to 201 in favor of the resolution, with the vote largely coming down along party lines. Just five Republicans broke with their party to vote against the resolution.
The vote in favor of the lawsuit reflects Republican anger over Obama's frequent use of executive actions to sidestep Congress.
Boehner revealed earlier this month that the lawsuit will focus on the president's unilateral actions on Obamacare's employer mandate.
In remarks on the House floor ahead of the vote, Boehner once again described the lawsuit as an effort to defend the constitution, arguing that Obama is attempting to make his own laws.
"This isn't about Republicans and Democrats," Boehner said. "It is about defending the Constitution that we swore an oath to uphold, and acting decisively when it may be compromised."
He added, "No member of this body needs to be reminded of what the Constitution states about the president's obligation to faithfully execute the laws of our nation. No member needs to be reminded of the bonds of trust that have been frayed."
Meanwhile, Democrats have criticized the threatened lawsuit as a political stunt that will waste valuable time and potentially millions of taxpayer dollars.
In remarks in Kansas City on Wednesday, Obama claimed he is being sued for doing his job and urged Congress to focus on more important issues.
"They're mad because I'm doing my job," Obama said. "And, by the way, I've told them -- I said, I'd be happy to do it with you. So the only reason I'm doing it on my own is because you don't do anything."
He added, "I mean, everybody recognizes this is a political stunt, but it's worse than that, because every vote they're taking like that means a vote they're not taking to actually help you."
Legal experts have suggested that the lawsuit could take years to resolve and could be dismissed altogether.
Results of a Public Policy Polling survey released earlier this month found that a majority of American voters view the proposed lawsuit as a "political stunt."
The poll showed that 51 percent of registered voters think the lawsuit is a "political stunt," while 41 percent believe it is a "legitimate suit." Another 8 percent said they are not sure.
The PPP survey also found that 56 percent of voters think the lawsuit will be a waste of taxpayer money, while only 36 percent believe it will be a good use of taxpayer money.
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