'I will vote for it,' the Wisconsin Republican said on MSNBC. Ryan: 'I will vote for' Boehner suit

Rep. Paul Ryan on Friday said he supports House Speaker John Boehner’s lawsuit against President Barack Obama.

“I will vote for it,” the Wisconsin Republican said on MSNBC.


The House Rules Committee on Thursday voted 7-4 along party lines to approve a resolution for the House to vote on the lawsuit. The chamber is expected to vote on the suit next week.

( Also on POLITICO: House panel backs Obama lawsuit)

The speaker’s lawsuit alleges that the president has overreached in his executive power by waiving the employer mandate for the Affordable Care Act without approval from Congress.

When asked Friday whether the lawsuit was a productive use of time, Ryan said Congress could handle several issues at once.

“We can walk and chew gum at the same time,” the 2012 Republican vice presidential nominee said. “We can juggle a lot of bills. We’re working on border security, foreign policy, appropriations and many things at one time. So, it’s not as if this displaces action on other items.”

“We’re very concerned about the lawlessness of the administration exceeding the executive branch’s authority,” Ryan added.

( PHOTOS: 15 times the White House was labeled lawless)

In late January, the House Budget Committee chairman criticized the president for executive overreach on Obamacare.

“He unilaterally waived and delayed the employer mandate. He unilaterally waived other mandates, which the law doesn’t allow him to do,” Ryan said. “So he’s already shown that he’s prone to circumvent the legislative branch and abuse the powers of the executive branch with these executive orders.”

A CNN/ORC International poll released Friday reported that 41 percent of Americans think House Republicans should go along with the lawsuit, compared with 57 percent who don’t.