BET Wire: You're Paying the Attorney to Sue Obama $500 an Hour

Republicans take a step forward in Obama lawsuit.

In Case You Missed It - Republicans leave President Obama scratching his head; Ben Carson kind of blames the spread of measles on immigrants; one lawmaker thinks it's OK if your food service worker doesn't wash his hands after a bathroom break — and more. — Joyce Jones (@BETpolitichick)

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In Case You Missed It - House Republicans have hired an attorney for their lawsuit against President Obama; Senate Democrats are anxious to get the first lady on the campaign trail; Mitt Romney may be toying with the idea of a third presidential bid; House Speaker John Boehner made a video with his toy monkey – and more. Joyce Jones (@BETpolitichick) (Photo: BET)

House Hires an Attorney - House Republicans have hired David Rivkin, a partner at the law firm Baker & Hostetler LLP, to make the case in their lawsuit against Obama. The firm is to be paid $500 per hour, with a cap of $350,000. "Only in John Boehner's world does it make sense to pay lawyers $500 per hour to work on a partisan lawsuit while refusing to raise the minimum wage to $10.10 for hardworking Americans trying to feed their families," said Rep. Steve Israel, chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. (Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images)

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House Hires an Attorney - House Republicans have hired David Rivkin, a partner at the law firm Baker & Hostetler LLP, to make the case in their lawsuit against Obama. The firm is to be paid $500 per hour, with a cap of $350,000. "Only in John Boehner's world does it make sense to pay lawyers $500 per hour to work on a partisan lawsuit while refusing to raise the minimum wage to $10.10 for hardworking Americans trying to feed their families," said Rep. Steve Israel, chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. (Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images)

Democrats Want Michelle Obama to Hit the Road! - The president's approval ratings may be at all-time lows, but First Lady Michelle Obama's popularity tops the charts. Senate Democrats, desperate to maintain control of their chamber, are anxiously waiting to see her on the campaign trail to help them increase the odds. "The question isn't will she or won't she?" a Democrat told The Hill political newspaper. "It's how much time she'll devote and if it'll be too little, too late." (Photo: Sara D. Davis/Getty Images)

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Democrats Want Michelle Obama to Hit the Road! - The president's approval ratings may be at all-time lows, but First Lady Michelle Obama's popularity tops the charts. Senate Democrats, desperate to maintain control of their chamber, are anxiously waiting to see her on the campaign trail to help them increase the odds. "The question isn't will she or won't she?" a Democrat told The Hill political newspaper. "It's how much time she'll devote and if it'll be too little, too late." (Photo: Sara D. Davis/Getty Images)

History in the Making? - Oklahoma state Sen. Connie Johnson won the Democratic primary runoff election on Aug. 26 and will face U.S. Rep. James Lankford in the race fill the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Sen. Tom Coburn. (Photo: courtesy Connie Johnson for US Senate Campaign)

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History in the Making? - Oklahoma state Sen. Connie Johnson won the Democratic primary runoff election on Aug. 26 and will face U.S. Rep. James Lankford in the race fill the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Sen. Tom Coburn. (Photo: courtesy Connie Johnson for US Senate Campaign)

Hands Up! - As Michael Brown was being laid to rest on Aug. 25, students of all races at colleges across the nation marched out of class to honor Brown and protest police violence and racial profiling. The 18-year-old would have been in class that day at Vatterott College if he hadn't been slain by a Ferguson, Missouri, police officer. (Photo: The Organization for Black Struggle-St. Louis via Twitter)

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Hands Up! - As Michael Brown was being laid to rest on Aug. 25, students of all races at colleges across the nation marched out of class to honor Brown and protest police violence and racial profiling. The 18-year-old would have been in class that day at Vatterott College if he hadn't been slain by a Ferguson, Missouri, police officer. (Photo: The Organization for Black Struggle-St. Louis via Twitter)

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Is the GOP Threatening Another Government Shutdown? - Florida Sen. Marco Rubio suggested in an interview that Republicans could use a government funding bill to prevent Obama from taking executive action on immigration reforms. "I'm interested to see what kinds of ideas my colleagues have about using funding mechanisms to address this issue," he said. Kentucky Sen. Mitch McConnell also has hinted that he would use spending bills to battle with the president if the GOP regains control of the Senate this fall. (Photos from left: Timothy D. Easley/AP Photo, Win McNamee/Getty Images)

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Is the GOP Threatening Another Government Shutdown? - Florida Sen. Marco Rubio suggested in an interview that Republicans could use a government funding bill to prevent Obama from taking executive action on immigration reforms. "I'm interested to see what kinds of ideas my colleagues have about using funding mechanisms to address this issue," he said. Kentucky Sen. Mitch McConnell also has hinted that he would use spending bills to battle with the president if the GOP regains control of the Senate this fall. (Photos from left: Timothy D. Easley/AP Photo, Win McNamee/Getty Images)

Circumstances Could Change - Failed GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney has been pretty adamant that he will not make another White House bid, saying he had his chance. But in an interview on nationally-syndicated radio program "The Hugh Hewitt Show," Romney said, "Circumstances can change, but I'm just not going to let my head go there." (Photo: John Gress/Getty Images)

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Circumstances Could Change - Failed GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney has been pretty adamant that he will not make another White House bid, saying he had his chance. But in an interview on nationally-syndicated radio program "The Hugh Hewitt Show," Romney said, "Circumstances can change, but I'm just not going to let my head go there." (Photo: John Gress/Getty Images)

American Jihadi - Douglas McCain, who grew up in New Hope, Minnesota, has died fighting alongside ISIS during a battle in Syria. And he's not the only one from that town who's lost his life fighting so-called "holy wars" in the Middle East. His friend and high school classmate, Troy Kastigar, was killed in 2009 while fighting in Somalia. (Photo: AP Photo/Hennepin County, Minn. Sheriff's Office)

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American Jihadi - Douglas McCain, who grew up in New Hope, Minnesota, has died fighting alongside ISIS during a battle in Syria. And he's not the only one from that town who's lost his life fighting so-called "holy wars" in the Middle East. His friend and high school classmate, Troy Kastigar, was killed in 2009 while fighting in Somalia. (Photo: AP Photo/Hennepin County, Minn. Sheriff's Office)

Justice Will Be Done - In remarks delivered at the American Legion National Convention on Aug. 26, 2014 in Charlotte, North Carolina, Obama vowed to root out ISIS, which he likened to a cancer. "Our message to anyone who harms our people is simple. America does not forget. Our reach is long. We are patient. Justice will be done," he said. "We will do what's necessary to capture those who harm Americans, to go after those who harm Americans, and we'll continue to take direct action where needed to protect our people and to defend our homeland."(Photo: Sara D. Davis/Getty Images)

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Justice Will Be Done - In remarks delivered at the American Legion National Convention on Aug. 26, 2014 in Charlotte, North Carolina, Obama vowed to root out ISIS, which he likened to a cancer. "Our message to anyone who harms our people is simple. America does not forget. Our reach is long. We are patient. Justice will be done," he said. "We will do what's necessary to capture those who harm Americans, to go after those who harm Americans, and we'll continue to take direct action where needed to protect our people and to defend our homeland."(Photo: Sara D. Davis/Getty Images)

The Lighter Side of John Boehner - Often-curmudgeonly House Speaker John Boehner is co-starring in a video released from his office with a wind-up monkey gifted to him by his staff. They bought the toy in 2001 after Boehner joked in an interview that there are days when he feels like a wind-up toy because of his busy schedule. "The Monkey in the Room" shows him talking to three little girls, "That's what I do all day! Every 15, 30, minutes, they come in and wind me up, and I do my thing." (Photo: Speaker.gov)

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The Lighter Side of John Boehner - Often-curmudgeonly House Speaker John Boehner is co-starring in a video released from his office with a wind-up monkey gifted to him by his staff. They bought the toy in 2001 after Boehner joked in an interview that there are days when he feels like a wind-up toy because of his busy schedule. "The Monkey in the Room" shows him talking to three little girls, "That's what I do all day! Every 15, 30, minutes, they come in and wind me up, and I do my thing." (Photo: Speaker.gov)