Rep. Gosar Demands GAO Investigate Executive Amnesty Actions That Likely Violate the Antideficiency Act

Statement

Today, U.S. Congressman Paul A. Gosar, D.D.S. (AZ-04) released the following statement after spearheading a letter signed by 29 of his House colleagues to Comptroller General of the United States, Gene Dodaro, asking the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to investigate expenditures by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in relation to President Obama's executive amnesty actions and to determine if these actions violate the Antideficiency Act (ADA):

"Congress has not authorized this amnesty program or appropriated money to hire staff and rent buildings to process these illegal applications. The Antideficiency Act clearly states that federal employees are prohibited from, "involving the government in any obligation to pay money before funds have been appropriated for that purpose, unless otherwise allowed by law.'

"Federal Judge Andrew Hanen was so concerned that these actions were outside the law that he issued an injunction barring President Barack Obama and his administration from implementing "any and all aspects or phases of' the November 2014 amnesty order. Disturbingly, the president has indicated he will not comply with the judges' orders.

"I call on GAO to conduct an investigation into this matter and respond to the questions posed by my House colleagues and me. If the president or any other government employee is found to have violated the ADA, they risk undermining the very fabric of the Constitution and should be held accountable through the administrative and penal sanctions punishable by this Act. Congress must be vigilant in our oversight of this rogue administration and in our enforcement of the rule of law."

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