Concerned about the growth of executive power, U.S. Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer (MO-3) today voted for House Resolution 676 that provides the Speaker of the House with the authority to initiate litigation for actions by the president or other executive branch officials alleged to be inconsistent with their Constitutional duties. 

"As Americans, we must never forget that Congress makes the laws and the president executes them, but unfortunately, that separation of powers created by our Founding Fathers has been slowly eroded as the executive branch continues to be more and more brazen in its own perceived authority,” Luetkemeyer said. “The separation of powers must be distinct and enforced because at the end of the day this is not about this Congress and this president. This is about all future Congresses and future presidents, as well.”

The resolution sponsored by Rep. Pete Sessions of Texas is now ready to be sent to a federal judge for a decision on whether or not the House has legal standing to pursue the case. If a judge rules that the House does, in fact, have the standing to pursue the lawsuit, it would move to a federal court.