Boehner Threatens to Pull Plug on Libya

If White House legal counsel isn't satisfied with Obama's arguments
By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff
Posted Jun 16, 2011 12:00 PM CDT
Boehner Threatens to Pull Plug on Libya
House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio speaks to reporters on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, June 16, 2011.   (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

John Boehner took a harder line on Libya than usual today, saying that Congress might yank funding for the non-war if the White House Office of Legal Counsel doesn’t support President Obama’s argument that his actions are legal. “The ultimate option is … the Congress has the power of the purse. And certainly, that is an option,” Boehner said, according to Politico.

Obama has argued that since US troops are not in harm’s way, the operation doesn’t require congressional approval. Boehner says he finds that logic dubious. “It doesn’t pass the straight-face test in my view that we’re not in the midst of hostilities,” he said. “I think it’s time for the president to outline for the American people why we are there, what the mission is, and what our goals are.” (More John Boehner stories.)

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