11-07-2007, 06:07 AM
<!--emo&:felx--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/flex.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='flex.gif' /><!--endemo--> House Republicans seek debate on Cheney issue
By William L. Watts, MarketWatch
Last Update: 6:06 PM ET Nov 6, 2007Print E-mail Subscribe to RSS Disable Live Quotes
WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) -- The U.S. House voted along party lines Tuesday to send a resolution calling for the impeachment of Vice President Dick Cheney to the House Judiciary Committee, where it likely won't see daylight any time soon.
The impeachment resolution, sponsored by Democratic presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich, an Ohio congressman, accuses Cheney of violating his pledge to protect the U.S. Constitution. It says that Cheney misled the public about weapons of mass destruction in Iraq and ties between al Qaeda and Saddam Hussein's regime, as well as by making threats against Iran "absent any real threat to the United States."
Top House Democrats, including Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., have said that they won't consider an impeachment measure. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., moved to "table" the resolution, a parliamentary maneuver that would effectively shelve the measure.
The motion to table the resolution appeared headed for easy passage. But Republicans soon changed course and voted overwhelmingly against the measure in a bid to force a debate on the resolution on the House floor.
'We're going to help [Democrats] out, to explain themselves.'
â Pete Sessions, R-Texas
"We're going to help them out, to explain themselves," said Rep. Pete Sessions, R-Texas, according to the Associated Press. "We're going to give them their day in court."
Hoyer then moved to send the measure to the judiciary panel. After further procedural wrangling, the House voted 218 to 194, largely along party lines, to refer the matter to the committee and shut down the prospect of a floor debate.
In a written statement, Hoyer reiterated that Democratic leaders have decided not to proceed with impeachment and criticized Republican leaders for attempting to force a debate on the resolution.
"I am surprised that Republicans would treat an issue as important as the potential impeachment of a vice president of the United States as a petty political game," he said. "It is beneath the dignity of this institution."
If the House approves an article of impeachment, it then goes to the Senate for trial. An official can be removed from office after a two-thirds vote by the Senate.
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By William L. Watts, MarketWatch
Last Update: 6:06 PM ET Nov 6, 2007Print E-mail Subscribe to RSS Disable Live Quotes
WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) -- The U.S. House voted along party lines Tuesday to send a resolution calling for the impeachment of Vice President Dick Cheney to the House Judiciary Committee, where it likely won't see daylight any time soon.
The impeachment resolution, sponsored by Democratic presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich, an Ohio congressman, accuses Cheney of violating his pledge to protect the U.S. Constitution. It says that Cheney misled the public about weapons of mass destruction in Iraq and ties between al Qaeda and Saddam Hussein's regime, as well as by making threats against Iran "absent any real threat to the United States."
Top House Democrats, including Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., have said that they won't consider an impeachment measure. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., moved to "table" the resolution, a parliamentary maneuver that would effectively shelve the measure.
The motion to table the resolution appeared headed for easy passage. But Republicans soon changed course and voted overwhelmingly against the measure in a bid to force a debate on the resolution on the House floor.
'We're going to help [Democrats] out, to explain themselves.'
â Pete Sessions, R-Texas
"We're going to help them out, to explain themselves," said Rep. Pete Sessions, R-Texas, according to the Associated Press. "We're going to give them their day in court."
Hoyer then moved to send the measure to the judiciary panel. After further procedural wrangling, the House voted 218 to 194, largely along party lines, to refer the matter to the committee and shut down the prospect of a floor debate.
In a written statement, Hoyer reiterated that Democratic leaders have decided not to proceed with impeachment and criticized Republican leaders for attempting to force a debate on the resolution.
"I am surprised that Republicans would treat an issue as important as the potential impeachment of a vice president of the United States as a petty political game," he said. "It is beneath the dignity of this institution."
If the House approves an article of impeachment, it then goes to the Senate for trial. An official can be removed from office after a two-thirds vote by the Senate.
Related MarketWatch news
U.S. slaps new sanctions on Iran
Bush tells Congress to speed work on federal spending bills
A new PBS series offers lessons from 'the Good War'
Related Blog Posts & Articles
Top stories
4:45 PM today U.S. stocks rebound to close with triple-digit gain
5:52 PM today Nintendo chief says Sony, Microsoft face 'strategic conundrum'
3:47 PM today Yahoo shares wilt as CEO catches heat on Capitol Hill
5:13 AM today Alibaba.com shares nearly triple in Hong Kong debut