Obama: I Have Been 'Very Disciplined' Using Executive Action

President Barack Obama said in an interview set to air Friday evening that his administration has been "very disciplined" with the use of executive orders and that he is not worried about action underway in the House to reign in his power.

The comments came after CNN's Jake Tapper asked Obama what he thinks of congressional Republicans, such as Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), calling his presidency an "imperial" one.

[sharequote align="center"]"...we've been very disciplined and sparing in terms of the executive actions that we have taken."[/sharequote]

"Well, I don't think that's very serious," Obama said, according to a rush transcript of the interview obtained by TheBlaze. "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. Uh, we make sure that we're doing it within the authority that we have under statute."

President Barack Obama delivers his State of the Union address on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday Jan. 28, 2014. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak) 

"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," he continued. "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, uh, in which case, um, I think the American people, uh, who's, right now, estimation of Congress is already pretty low, uh, might, uh, might have an even lower opinion."

"The Stop Act is not something you take seriously?" Tapper asked, referencing Rep. Tom Price's (R-Ga.) resolution aimed at reigning in his power.

"I am not particularly worried about it," Obama answered.

During his State of the Union address, delivered Tuesday evening before a join session of Congress, Obama said he would not wait for a stubborn Congress to act and would move forward on a host of issues through the use of executive orders.

“America does not stand still – and neither will I. So wherever and whenever I can take steps without legislation to expand opportunity for more American families, that’s what I’m going to do,” he said.

Tapper's interview with Obama is set to air on CNN at 4 p.m. ET Friday.

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