Kucinich to Force Impeachment Consideration Vote

(APN) ATLANTA – US Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH), also a US Presidential candidate for 2008, will force the issue of impeachment of Vice President Dick Cheney on the floor of the US House of Representatives next week, Atlanta Progressive News has learned.

Kucinich will issue a privileged resolution on impeachment in the US House. "The privileged resolution has priority status for consideration on the House floor. Once introduced, the resolution has to be brought to the floor within two legislative days, although the House could act on it immediately. Kucinich is expected to bring it to the House floor on Tuesday, November 6," Kucinich’s Office stated in a press release obtained by Atlanta Progressive News.

Kucinich said he expects that another Member of Congress will rise to ask Kucinich’s motion for Congress to consider impeachment be tabled, according to a video of his remarks today at Sierre Madre Park, in San Gabriel Valley, California, posted on the website, YouTube.

Kucinich urged Americans to contact their Member of Congress and insist they vote no on the motion to table; this, he said, would be the same as voting yes to consider impeachment.

"The momentum is building for impeachment," Kucinich said. "Millions of citizens across the nation are demanding Congress rein in the Vice President's abuse of power."

"Despite this groundswell of opposition to the unconstitutional conduct of office, Vice President Cheney continues to violate the U.S. Constitution by insisting the power of the executive branch is supreme,” Kucinich said.

"Congress must hold the Vice President accountable. The American people need to let Members of Congress know how they feel about this. The Vice President continues to use his office to advocate for a continued occupation of Iraq and prod our nation into a belligerent stance against Iran. If the Vice President is successful, his actions will ensure decades of disastrous consequences," Kucinich said.

Kucinich previously introduced a bill, H Res 333, to impeach Cheney over deceiving the American people regarding the alleged need to invade Iraq. The bill was referred to the Judiciary Committee and to the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties.

However, Chairman John Conyers of the Judiciary Committee has vowed that impeachment would not be considered, despite the fact that Mr. Conyers had previously, in the last Congressional Session, sponsored a resolution, H Res 635, which would have created a Select Committee to review the possible grounds for impeaching President Bush.

It was largely viewed that Conyers abandoned the impeachment issue because he wanted to be Chair of the Judiciary Committee and US Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), who is now Speaker, had insisted impeachment was "off the table."

The bill currently has 22 total co-sponsors, including Kucinich, as well as US Reps. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Robert Brady (D-PA), Yvette Clarke (D-NY), William Lacy Clay (D-MO), Steve Cohen (D-TN), Keith Ellison (D-MN), Sam Farr (D-CA), Bob Filner (D-CA), Sheila Jackson-Lee (D-TX), Henry Johnson (D-GA), Carolyn Kilpatrick (D-MI), Barbara Lee (D-CA), Jim McDermott (D-WA), James Moran (D-VA), Donald Payne (D-NJ), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Edolphus Towns (D-NY), Maxine Waters (D-CA), Diane Watson (D-CA), Lynn Woolsey (D-CA) and Albert Wynn (D-MD).

According to David Swanson, an impeachment activist, there are additional Members who have indicated they would support impeachment but did not sign on as co-sponsors.

As a point of reference, the 39 total co-sponsors of H Res 635 last Session were US Rep. Neil Abercrombie (D-HI), Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Rep. Michael Capuano (D-MA), Rep. Lois Capps (D-CA), Rep. William Lacy Clay (D-MO), Rep. John Conyers (D-MI), Rep. Danny Davis (D-IL), Rep. Sam Farr (D-CA), Rep. Chaka Fattah (D-PA), Rep. Bob Filner (D-CA), Rep. Maurice Hinchey (D-NY), Rep. Mike Honda (D-CA), Rep. Jackson, Jr., (D-IL), Rep. Sheila Jackson-Lee (D-TX), Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA), Rep. John Lewis (D-GA), Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), Rep. Betty McCollum (D-MN), Rep. Jim McDermott (D-WA), Rep. Cynthia McKinney (D-GA), Rep. Gwen Moore (D-WI), Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Rep. James Oberstar (D-MN), Rep. John Olver (D-MA), Rep. Major Owens (D-NY), Rep. Donald Payne (D-NJ), Rep. Charles Rangel (D-NY), Rep. Steve Rothman (D-NJ), Rep. Martin Sabo (D-MN), Rep. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Rep. Hilda Solis (D-CA), Rep. Fortney Pete Stark (D-CA), Rep. John Tierney (D-MA ), Rep. Nydia Velazquez (

Also, last Session a bill to impeach Bush had been introduced by US Rep. Cynthia McKinney (D-GA); however, it gained no co-sponsors.

Kucinich’s Office had not responded by press time to an email with questions about the privileged resolution sent from APN two days ago.

About the author:

Matthew Cardinale is the News Editor for The Atlanta Progressive News and may be reached at matthew@atlantaprogressivenews.com

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