The Briefing Room
General Category => Politics/Government => Topic started by: mystery-ak on May 11, 2014, 03:58:43 pm
-
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/05/11/boehner-lois-lerner_n_5305372.html?ncid=fcbklnkushpmg00000013 (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/05/11/boehner-lois-lerner_n_5305372.html?ncid=fcbklnkushpmg00000013)
John Boehner Won't Send Sergeant At Arms To Arrest Lois Lerner
Posted: 05/11/2014 10:53 am EDT Updated: 32 minutes ago
WASHINGTON -- Last week, by a 231-187 vote, the House of Representatives voted to hold former IRS official Lois Lerner in contempt of Congress.
Lerner has refused to testify about her role in the agency's screening of conservative interest groups for political activity. And she rattled House Republicans when she issued a statement in her defense prior to invoking the Fifth Amendment declining to offer further testimony.
The matter now goes to the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, who could bring the issue to court. But a provision within the Constitution would allow also House Republicans to send its sergeant at arms to arrest Lerner and force her back to Congress for a trial.
The extraordinary measure hasn't been used since 1934. And luckily for Lerner, it seems unlikely that House Speaker John Boehner will exercise it any time soon, or so he said on Sunday.
"There is a provision in the Constitution that has never been used. I'm not quite sure that we want to go down that path," Boehner told Maria Bartiromo, on her Fox News show "Sunday Morning Futures."
"So you're not looking to do that?" Bartiromo asked.
"No, it's never been used," Boehner replied.
"Why not?"
"I'm not the historian here. It's never been used, and I'm not sure that it's an appropriate way to go about this," Boehner said. "It is up to [Attorney General] Eric Holder to do his job."
-
Well, was it used or not in 1934?
-
Well, was it used or not in 1934?
Really. That is a good question.
As far as Holder doing his job...............................It'll be a cold day in Central Texas in July before that happens
-
And this, ladies and gents, is why people don't like Boehner. He talks a good game, but he never finishes the job.
Alas, as long as he continues to cut off his opponents' livelihoods if they dare challenge him, he will never face a serious challenge.
-
And this, ladies and gents, is why people don't like Boehner. He talks a good game, but he never finishes the job.
Alas, as long as he continues to cut off his opponents' livelihoods if they dare challenge him, he will never face a serious challenge.
So you think he ought to arrest Lerner? Do you not realize how damned dumb that would be?
And, for the record, Boehner cut off nobody's livelihood. His primary opponent, some dude aptly named "Winteregg" decided to get cute with his "Electile Dysfunction" ad. The Christian college where he worked didn't appreciate the humor and let him go.
And it was a sure a game changer in the election, wasn't it?
-
So you think he ought to arrest Lerner? Do you not realize how damned dumb that would be?
And, for the record, Boehner cut off nobody's livelihood. His primary opponent, some dude aptly named "Winteregg" decided to get cute with his "Electile Dysfunction" ad. The Christian college where he worked didn't appreciate the humor and let him go.
And it was a sure a game changer in the election, wasn't it?
That ad was more funny after Winteregg lost his job.
I guess some people feel if the executive branch can create law, the legislative branch should be able to enforce the law. Of course, that's not what the constitution says.
I wonder why the rats didn't arrest Harriet Miers after she was found in contempt of the rat congress of 2007? It must be proof that Pelosi just didn't have the guts that a real conservative has.
-
"John Boehner Won't". And hasn't ever.