**Written by Doug Powers

According to Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, there are times when the country doesn’t have any need for the US House of Representatives, and it’s because of Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee that I often agree with her. Not this time, however.

From The Hill:

Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas) said Tuesday that President Obama “absolutely” should use his executive power to continue the unemployment benefits and payroll tax cut extension and said she hoped to discuss the option with the White House later in the day.

“It is extraordinary, don’t get me wrong. But I’m feeling the pain of the constituents I left [at] home,” Jackson Lee said, speaking on the progressive Ed Schultz’s radio show. “I consider this a crisis. I consider leaving Americans without unemployment insurance for January and February a crime. I consider not extending the payroll tax cut … a crime.”

A member of Congress being this ignorant about the Constitution is… a crime.

But Jackson Lee shouldn’t take my word for it or any House Republican for that matter. This is from today’s White House press briefing:

Q: Can the president offer any assurances to the American people that this will get done before January 1st?

Carney: In order for it to get done, it has to pass the House. This is one area where his executive authority does not extend. He cannot order an extension of the payroll tax cut.

Sorry, Sheila.

Read some of Sheila Jackson Lee’s greatest hits here, here, here, here and here.

**Written by Doug Powers

Twitter @ThePowersThatBe