Obama: I Don’t Think the ‘Imperial Presidency’ Accusations Are ‘Very Serious’

JAKE TAPPER: And let's talk about House Republicans, because - and - and Senate Republicans. There has been a large contingency of Republicans critical of your new approach. Senator Ted Cruz of Texas, who might run for president, calls this the imperial presidency. And in the House, there is this thing, as you know, called The Stop Act. They want to rein in what you're trying to do.
How do you respond to that?

PRESIDENT OBAMA: Well, I don't think that's very serious. I mean, the truth of the matter is, is that every president engages in executive actions. In fact, we've been very disciplined and sparing in terms of the executive actions that we have taken. We make sure that we're doing it within the authority that we have under statute. But I am not going to make an apology for saying that if I can help middle class families and folks who are working hard to try to get in the middle class do a little bit better, then I'm going to do it.

And, you know, I think it's - it's a tough argument for the other side to make that not only are they willing to do an - not do anything, but they also want me not to do anything in which case I think the American people who's, right now, estimation of Congress is already pretty low might might have an even lower opinion.

TAPPER: The Stop Act is not something you take seriously?

OBAMA: I am not particularly worried about it.