Landry Introduces Bill to Fight Obama Recess Appointees

January 13, 2012

In light of President Obama’s blatant disregard for the Constitution, Congressman Jeff Landry (R, LA-03) – who has led the House efforts to block Obama from making recess appointments – introduced legislation today to stop the exploitation of the recess appointments process.

H.R. 3770 – the Executive Appointments Reform Act (EARA) – prevents regulations from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau from becoming final until the Director has been confirmed by the Senate and precludes the National Labor Relations Board from having a quorum until its members are confirmed by the Senate. Additionally, EARA closes loopholes in existing law that allow the President to thwart the will of the Senate by strategically waiting until a recess to make a controversial appointment.

“As a tireless supporter of the Constitution, I believe the Recess Appointments Clause serves a very important purpose; however, it’s clear the Founding Fathers included the clause to provide the continuity of government not as a way to circumvent the ‘Advice and Consent of the Senate.’ So as we wait for the Court to declare Obama’s appointments as unconstitutional, it is important Congress take steps now to end this gross Executive overreach and prevent similar power grabs from happening again,” said Landry.

Already the EARA has received the support of 22 Congressmen and multiple organizations demanding that the President respect the Constitution.

“Congressman Landry’s leadership on protecting the U.S. Constitution’s balance of power is important and courageous. Congress has a responsibility to cut the funding for Obama’s extra-constitutional appointees as well as those who are appointed outside the normal advice and consent process. It is just logical that illegally appointed members of the National Labor Relations Board should not be counted toward a quorum,” said Bill Wilson, President of Americans for Limited Government.

Landry hopes the outpouring of support will translate into swift passage: “From Obamacare to Dodd-Frank to these ‘recess’ appointments, the President has ignored the Constitution and defied the will of the American people. I hope my colleagues recognize the importance of my legislation and work to quickly pass Executive Appointments Reform Act.”

The list of original co-sponsors on the EARA are as follows: Lou Barletta (PA-11), Diane Black (TN-06), Marsha Blackburn (TN-07), Mo Brooks (AL-05), Dan Burton (IN-05), Jeff Duncan (SC-03), Trent Franks (AZ-02), Paul Gosar (AZ-01), Trey Gowdy (SC-04), Morgan Griffith (VA-09), Lynn Jenkins (KS-02), Bill Johnson (OH-06), Sam Johnson (TX-03), Jeff Miller (FL-01), Tim Murphy (PA-18), Mike Rogers (AL-03), Dennis Ross (FL-12), Steve Scalise (LA-01), Tim Scott (SC-01), Cliff Stearns (FL-06), Lynn Westmoreland (GA-03), and Joe Wilson (SC-02).

For more information (including audio and video) on Landry’s efforts to prevent President Obama from making another recess appointment, you may go to http://landry.house.gov/press-release/landry-presides-over-house-blocks-recess-appointments.