GOP lawmaker: No to Obama lawsuit

A Republican congressman opposes legislation that would authorize a lawsuit against President Obama for his executive actions.

Rep. Walter Jones (R-N.C.) told The Hill that the lawsuit, spearheaded by Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio), is “theater, is a show.”

{mosads} Jones, who will vote no on the legislation that is scheduled to hit the House floor on Thursday, said he prefers impeaching Obama.

“Why not impeach instead of wasting $1 million to $2 million of the taxpayers’ money? … If you’re serious about this, use what the founders of the Constitution gave us,” Jones said.

Democrats have been raising campaign donations on the prospects of impeachment. GOP leaders have stressed repeatedly they are not going to impeach Obama.

Boehner on Tuesday said that the notion that Republicans would impeach Obama is a “scam” drummed up by Democrats to boost their campaign coffers.

Other Republicans who have expressed support for impeachment include Reps. Louie Gohmert (Texas), Steve Stockman (Texas) and Michele Bachmann (Minn.).

Pressed on the lack of support in the House Republican Conference for impeachment, Jones said, “That’s why the Republican Party is in trouble.”

Jones added that Democrats have a right to use impeachment to raise money but argued it is a bigger issue than the next election. 

“The integrity of our government is more important,” said Jones, who isn’t shy about bucking his leaders.

The vote on Boehner’s lawsuit is expected to fall largely along party lines and pass the GOP-led House. The focus of the legal challenge is Obama’s executive order to delay the Affordable Care Act’s mandate requiring employers with 50 or more workers to provide health insurance coverage.