The Texas congressman who floated the possibility of impeachment over President Barack Obama’s recent gun control executive actions introduced legislation Wednesday that would stop them entirely.
“Last week I promised to thwart Obama’s unlawful orders, first by seeking to block, overturn and defund any action that violates the Constitution,” said Texas Republican Rep. Stockman. “Promise made, promise kept. No matter his intentions, the Constitution flatly prohibits the President from just making up his own laws.”
Stockman’s “Restore the Constitution Act” is intended to serve as companion legislation to Kentucky Republican Sen. Rand Paul’s “Separation of Powers Restoration and Second Amendment Protection Act.”
If law, Stockman’s bill would declare any executive action that infringes on Congress’ duties under Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution or the Second Amendment or that requires federal funds that have not been appropriated by Congress to not have the force of law. The executive action would instead serve to advise.
“The Orders issued by President Obama are not intended to execute laws passed by the Congress. President Obama is abusing his authority to write his own unaccountable laws,” Stockman said. “Regardless of your position on gun rights, Congress has an obligation to assert its constitutional authority as the only lawful rulemaking body.”
Stockman recently said he would consider filing articles of impeachment against Obama if efforts such as legislation or lawsuits fail to stop Obama’s gun control measures.
Obama issued 23 executive actions last week aimed at preventing gun violence in the wake of the Sandy Hook Elementary shooting.