The insufferable Representative Steven Palazzo (R-MI) has introduced a resolution to censure President Obama for issuing new guidelines for background checks on gun purchases.
"For seven years, the President has gradually expanded his powers through executive overreach,” Palazzo said in a statement. “His actions this week to take away the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens is just the latest, if not most egregious, violation of the separation of powers found in the United States Constitution.”
“Congress must go on record to stand up as an equal branch of government — both against this President and any future president who attempts to use his authority to write the law instead of enforce the law.”
Republicans have made a series of dire and apocalyptic predictions about the Obama administration's actions, but this might be the best they've got.
Speaker of the House Paul Ryan (R-WI) vowed to challenge the administration in court immediately after the new ATF guidelines were unveiled, but there's been no movement on that front yet. Even if they do file a lawsuit, it won't be resolved before President Obama leaves office and, with that in mind, they may decide not to file a lawsuit and instead make it a presidential campaign issue. Democrats certainly will regardless of what actions they take.
If we're being real, asserting that this the boldest executive action the president has ever taken is absurd. I welcome the administration's actions, and they are meaningful, but requiring background checks on private gun sales does not seem quite as sweeping to me as the president executive orders on immigration. Unfortunately, the latter has been halted in court.
Of course Republicans are going to say the president's actions are the most "egregious" ever whether he's attempting to reduce gun violence or simply pardon a turkey.