US News

GOPers slam Bam ‘threat’ to Supremes

WASHINGTON — Republican lawmakers yesterday blasted President Obama for “threatening” the Supreme Court justices as they consider whether to strike down his health-care law.

“What President Obama is doing here isn’t right. It is threatening, it is intimidating,” said Sen. Mike Johanns in an interview with Nebraska radio station KLIN.

The Nebraska Republican was livid that Obama was bullying the court to uphold the constitutionality of the law’s so-called individual mandate, which would force all Americans to buy health insurance.

Obama demanded Monday that the Supreme Court show “judicial restraint” and “not take what would be an unprecedented, extraordinary step of overturning a law that was passed by a strong majority of the democratically elected Congress.”

Obama yesterday repeated that call.

“He’s saying, ‘Look, I get to decide what’s right and wrong for every individual in this country through the individual mandate and there is no judicial review. The courts can’t interfere with my power,’ ” said Johanns.

A federal appeals court also took issue with the president, ordering the Justice Department explain in writing whether the Obama administration thinks the courts can strike down a federal law.

The three-judge panel of the US Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit, which is hearing a separate challenge to ObamaCare by physicians, ordered the Justice Department to answer the question with a three-page letter by noon tomorrow.