Senate

Lead Senate Republican on gun bill distances himself from Obama

by Jordain Carney - 01/05/16 1:44 PM ET

The lead Republican on legislation that would expand background checks for gun sales slammed President Obama on Tuesday for taking action on the issue without Congress.

Sen. Pat Toomey, who faces a tough reelection race in blue-leaning Pennsylvania, said that while he still needs more information about the president’s regulatory moves, “the most appropriate way for handling firearm issues is when Congress and the President work together.”

{mosads}”The President has abused these actions in the past and exceeded the boundaries of the law. This should not be allowed under our constitutional framework,” he added in a statement.

Obama announced new executive actions on Tuesday aimed at requiring background checks for all gun sales, including on the Internet and at gun shows, which are now exempt.

Toomey worked with Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) on a 2013 proposal that would have expanded background checks for all firearm purchases but was unable to overcome a procedural hurdle requiring 60 votes. Most of Toomey’s Republican colleagues, including GOP leadership, opposed the measure.

The two senators tried to attach the proposal to an ObamaCare repeal bill last month but once again fell short. Toomey, as well as Republican Sens. Mark Kirk (Ill.), John McCain (Ariz.) and Susan Collins (Maine), voted for the background check amendment.

Toomey on Tuesday stressed that he still backs requiring background checks for all commercial sales of guns, calling it a “commonsense way to protect public safety.”

His comments come as he is facing a potentially tough reelection bid in Pennsylvania.

Former Rep. Joe Sestak, who is running for the Democratic Senate nomination, backed Obama’s executive actions on Monday and took a jab at Toomey, saying that it took the 2012 shooting at a Connecticut elementary school for him “to back any gun safety measures.”

“I call upon Sen. Toomey to support these commonsense steps to prevent gun violence,” he added.

Toomey’s criticism of Obama’s actions puts him in line with many of his Republican colleagues, who quickly pounced on the president’s announcement, suggesting it was another example of Obama’s overreach.

Sen. Heidi Heitkamp (N.D.), the only Democrat to vote against the Manchin-Toomey amendment late last year, voiced skepticism about Obama’s ability to carry out the actions.

“I welcome any discussion about how we can reduce gun violence. But I have some serious concerns about the president over-stepping his authority to implement some of these proposals,” she said in a statement. “To truly understand how these executive actions would work, we need more details from the administration.”

Heitkamp added that Obama’s initiative does include some ideas that she’s previously voted for, including increased support for mental health care and improving the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS).

– This story was updated at 3:48 p.m.

Tags Heidi Heitkamp Joe Manchin John McCain Mark Kirk Susan Collins