Rove: GOP should halt reform action with bill

Karl Rove suggests that Republicans looking to keep President Obama from asserting executive authority on immigration should use the power of legislation.

“Put writers on appropriations bills that say no monies should be spent to execute this policy. Pass a bill that specifically holds him accountable,” Rove said on Fox News Thursday night.

{mosads}Obama said Wednesday at a post-midterm press conference that it was his “profound preference” Congress pass immigration reform, but added, “what I’m not going to do is just wait.”

House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) on Thursday said that, while it was “time to deal with” immigration, Obama acting unilaterally would “poison the well” for lawmakers and potential legislation.

Rove questioned the president’s authority to let those in the U.S. illegally stay or be granted citizenship.

“I don’t think he has the statutory authority to do that,” said Rove, a former senior adviser and deputy chief of staff to President George W. Bush.

“We ought to use the power of legislation, and we ought to go to the courts as quickly as possible,” he said.

Rove pointed to Republican Senate victories in Arkansas, Colorado and Iowa as examples that the GOP has a mandate to do more than just oppose Obama but work on reforms, such as repealing ObamaCare.

“We didn’t get this victory just because we said we’re against Obama; we got this victory because we said we want to stop Obama, and we’ve got good things that will help make our country better and stronger.”