Summary: House Republicans have replaced David Rivkin of Baker & Hostetler with William Burck of Quinn Emanuel Urquhart to represent them in their lawsuit against President Obama.
According to Politico.com, House Republicans have replaced the firm that was hired to pursue a lawsuit against President Barack Obama. The Republicans originally hired David Rivkin of Baker & Hostetler to handle the lawsuit, which alleges abuses of executive authority. Rivkin recently relieved himself from the case due to rumored political pressure.
A Republican leadership aide stated that Baker & Hostetler faced pressure after agreeing to represent House Republicans in the lawsuit, which lead to the breakdown of the attorney-client relationship. Apparently, many of Baker & Hostetler’s clients were concerned due to their perception that the firm was part of an “overtly partisan lawsuit.”
Candice Miller, the House Administration Committee Chairwoman, entered a new agreement on Friday with Quinn Emanuel Urquhart’s William Burck.
Burck served as special counsel for President George W. Bush, and also served as outside counsel for the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform in its lawsuit against Attorney General Eric Holder.
The lawsuit against President Obama stems from the Obamacare legislation, specifically the delay of the employer mandate provision. The Republicans’ position is that the delay exceeds President Obama’s executive authority to implement the law. Therefore, the suit was filed to perform a legislative check on President Obama. Although the lawsuit was approved by the House in June, it has yet to be filed in federal court. Democrats have complained that the suit is simply a political stunt.
Drew Hammill, a spokesperson for House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, stated, “We knew that Speaker Boehner’s $500-per-hour lawsuit was unpopular with the American people. Now, we know it’s just bad business.”
Burck’s hourly billable rate is $500. The suit ix expected to cost the House $350,000.00.
The suit may not be the only action the House takes against President Obama. Bob Goodlatte, the House Judiciary Committee Chairman, recently said on CSPAN’s Newsmakers that if Obama were to take executive action on immigration reform this November, a second lawsuit may be filed.
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