Congressman Cohen Selected as Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee’s Executive Overreach Task Force

[WASHINGTON, DC] – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) today was selected by the House Judiciary Committee as Ranking Member of the committee’s Executive Overreach Task Force. The Executive Overreach Task Force will conduct hearings and investigations relating to separation of powers and executive overreach issues and will issue reports to the Committee detailing its findings and recommendations.

“As Ranking Member of the so-called ‘Executive Overreach Task Force,’ I would be less than forthright if I did not say that I and many others are skeptical as to whether the creation of this Task Force will be anything other than the latest platform from which House Republicans will attack President Barack Obama,” said Congressman Cohen. “From the Affordable Care Act to the President’s deferred action programs to provide temporary relief for certain undocumented immigrants, Republicans have continued to play politics and accuse President Obama of violating the Constitution when legally implementing his policies. I’m grateful that my seniority on the Committee provides me the opportunity to check baseless Republican attacks on our President. However, I hope that as the Task Force moves forward with its work, my colleagues on the Majority side will prove our skepticism to be unwarranted.”

The Executive Overreach Task Force will expire August 2, 2016. Video of Congressman Cohen’s remarks at the House Judiciary Committee meeting can be found here.