Phone: (202) 225-3976 . Fax: (202) 225-4099
From Rep. Waxman, 11/07
Thank you for contacting me to express your strong opposition to the policies of the Bush White House and your support for impeachment. I appreciate having the benefit of your view on this issue and the opportunity to share my thinking with you.
As you know, on November 6, 2007, Representative Dennis Kucinich offered a privileged resolution on the House floor to bring up H.Res. 333, which would impeach Vice President Cheney. I joined a majority of the House in a 218-194 vote to refer the privileged resolution to the Judiciary Committee, which is the committee of jurisdiction.
I do not take impeachment lightly. Having been elected to the House in 1974 on the heels of the resignation of President Nixon, I fully understand the gravity of the impeachment process. And having served in the House during the partisan and political campaign that pursued the impeachment of President Clinton, I have seen the detriment of its abuse.
While I recognize the eagerness of Representative Kucinich and other supporters of impeachment to move this resolution swiftly, I believe the House has a constitutional and institutional responsibility to handle such resolutions and their underlying accusations with due process and regular order. That is why I voted to refer the measure back to the House Judiciary Committee for its evaluation and consideration.
In addition to concerns about process, I personally believe that impeachment is not a successful strategy for challenging the Bush Administration. On a practical level there aren't enough votes in the House or the Senate for impeachment or a conviction. Furthermore, pursuing impeachment would polarize our country at a time when Americans are unifying across party lines to oppose the President's policies in Iraq. It does not make sense to divert attention and focus on a losing strategy against an administration that will be out of office next year.
As Chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform I am committed to holding this Administration accountable for its actions. I believe the best way to do so is by restoring the essential checks and balances that languished during previous congresses. I am determined to fully investigate acts of misconduct and misjudgment and learn from the Administration's mistakes so that we can fix our policies and prevent future abuses.
For more about my work in Congress, or to sign up for periodic e-mail updates, please visit ttp://oversight.house.gov and http://www.waxman.house.gov.
Thank you again for contacting me and please be in touch on issues of concern.
With kind regards, I am
Sincerely,
Henry A. Waxman
Member of Congress.
____________________________________________________________________________________________
Rep. Henry Waxman Falsely Claims Impeachment Requires 2/3 Vote in House, Scraps Constitution Before Reading It
A Waxman form letter to a constituent:
Thank you for contacting me to express your strong opposition to the policies of the Bush White House and your support for impeachment. I appreciate having the benefit of your view on this issue and the opportunity to share my thinking with you.
As you know, on November 6, 2007, Representative Dennis Kucinich offered a privileged resolution on the House floor to bring up H.Res. 333, which would impeach Vice President Cheney. I joined a majority of the House in a 218-194 vote to refer the privileged resolution to the Judiciary Committee, which is the committee of jurisdiction.
I do not take impeachment lightly. Having been elected to the House in 1974 on the heels of the resignation of President Nixon, I fully understand the gravity of the impeachment process. And having served in the House during the partisan and political
campaign that pursued the impeachment of President Clinton, I have seen the detriment of its abuse.
While I recognize the eagerness of Representative Kucinich and other supporters of impeachment to move this resolution swiftly, I believe the House has a constitutional and institutional responsibility to handle such resolutions and their underlying accusations with due process and regular order. That is why I voted to refer the measure back to the House Judiciary Committee for its evaluation and consideration.
In addition to concerns about process, I personally believe that impeachment is not a successful strategy for challenging the Bush Administration. On a practical level there aren't enough votes in the House or the Senate to reach the 2/3 threshold for impeachment or conviction. Furthermore, pursuing impeachment would polarize our country at a time when Americans are unifying across party lines to oppose the President's policies in Iraq. It does not make sense to divert attention and focus on a losing strategy against an administration that will be out of office next year.
As Chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform I am committed to holding this Administration accountable for its actions. I believe the best way to do so is by restoring the essential checks and balances that languished during previous congresses. I am determined to fully investigate acts of misconduct and misjudgment and learn from the Administration's mistakes so that we can fix our policies and prevent future abuses.
For more about my work in Congress, or to sign up for periodic e-mail updates, please visit http://oversight.house.gov and
http://www.waxman.house.gov.
Thank you again for contacting me and please be in touch
on issues of concern.
With kind regards, I am
Sincerely,
Henry A. Waxman
Member of Congress.
__________
Here's the latest polling on impeachment: http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/polling
Here's the law: Impeachment takes 50% plus 1 in the House. Conviction takes 2/3 in the Senate.
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LANIC meeting with Waxman Post Mortem
Thank you to Peter Thottam of www.BCImpeach.com
CONGRESSMAN HENRY WAXMAN - TUESDAY/AUG. 7TH SUMMARY OF MTG
Numerous points were made by all 15 pro-Impeachment activists in attendance. Waxman said he would take our literature under submission. What were his expressed reservations and issues?
(1) Timing -- Waxman said that he didn't think Impeachment by the House could happen until May 2008 and that a trial by the Senate would create huge political problems for the Democrats as the trial would run into the November 2008 elections thereby 'alienating' many American voters much like the impeachment of Clinton -- Waxman claimed -- alienated many voters from Republicans;
(2) He did not think he had enough 'convincing' evidence' to warrant impeachment and he valued his impartiality and 'information gathering' role on the Oversight and Government Reform Committee;
(3) He didn't believe the poll #s in favor of impeachment were greater than 20%;
(4) He was worried about Congressional Paralysis if impeachment proceedings were initiated and accusations of 'partisanship';
(5) Waxman was 'not sure' about his constitutional obligations and stated he would have to look into this (hence the faxed inquiry by us below and the request for a response);
(6) He needed to consult with the Democratic Party's leadership (presumably, Pelosi and Clinton's campaign team).
15 LANIC representatives and affiliate members met with Congressman Henry Waxman today (with an additional 40+ pro Impeachment demonstrators rallying for 2 hours in support outside). We are asking everyone to call his office and request that Congressman Waxman endorse H Res 333. Congressman Waxman needs to be persuaded that there is broad-based public support for Impeachment and that the public wants this now.
August 7 - 50 pro-Impeachment demonstrators outside Waxman's office from 4 pm to 6 pm (only a day's advance notice)
Congressman Waxman took our materials under submissions and asked that LANIC representatives keep his office apprisedof developments. Waxman -- as with Congressional representatives such as Adam Schiff, Brad Sherman and Linda Sanchez-- is on the fence and truly needs to hear regularly from community activists. Please also write him at lisa.pinto@mail.house.gov (chief legislative aid).
Waxman Says He will Keep An Open Mind on Impeachment
By Marcy Winograd
Congressman Waxman, Chair of the House Oversight Committee, told an impeachment delegation meeting with him in his Los Angeles office, Tues., Aug. 7, 2007, that he would mull over his constituents' articulate arguments, watch the Bill Moyers' interview on impeachment, and weigh whether there was sufficient evidence to, not just impeach, but convict Bush and Cheney.
Waxman told the delegation it was not enough to believe Bush and Cheney were responsible for high crimes; his decision to support or co-sponsor an impeachment resolution must be predicated on the knowledge that there is overwhelming evidence for a conviction.
Progressive Democrats of Los Angeles, California's 41st Assembly District Delegates, the Los Angeles National Impeachment Center, and the LA Green Party participated in the office delegation, while a group of impeachment supporters rallied outside, holding Impeachment is Patriotic signs and a 14-foot banner that read "Impeachment is on Our Table."
Inside, the 14 impeachment lobbyists meeting with Waxman offered multiple arguments. Marcy Winograd, the principle organizer of the delegation and the President of Progressive Democrats of Los Angeles, said the country was on the precipice of a police state with each new Presidential directive criminalizing dissent; Peter Thottam, a Green Party activist and the founder of the LA National Impeachment Center, referred to the many hundreds of thousands of people killed as a result of the Bush administration's lies that led the nation to war; Joye Swan, a leader of the Progressive Caucus in the California Democratic Party, referred to a sign in Waxman's lobby which mentioned the importance of a lone courageous voice; Michael Jay, Wayne Williams, and Linda Sutton, all activists with Progressive Democrats of America, reminded Waxman that he took an oath of office to uphold and defend the U.S. Constitution; Ricco Ross, a delegate to the California Democratic Party, said the impeachment of Bush and Cheney would redeem the United States in the eyes of the world. At one point one participant said, "Congressman Waxman, we are asking you to defend us."
At the outset of the meeting, Waxman expressed a hesitancy to come out publicly for impeachment, explaining that his role as a vigorous investigator would be compromised by taking a stand that could be perceived as partisan or partial. Winograd responded with, "At some point you, the investigator, have enough evidence to hold these criminals accountable. What is the point of continuous investigations unless an indictment or impeachment process is begun?" Showing some hesitancy, Waxman insisted that a successful impeachment trial would necessitate strong and convincing evidence to persuade both Democrats and Republicans that high crimes had been committed. In the next breath, Waxman recited a litany of Bush and Cheney's crimes, everything from the Iraq war to the outing of a CIA agent to illegal wiretapping. "You sound like you are delivering the opening argument for an impeachment trial," said Winograd. With good humor, Waxman nodded and smiled.
Towards the end of the meeting, Dorothy Reik, President of Progressive Democrats of the Santa Monica Mountains, urged Waxman to use the "inherent contempt" power of Congress to bring criminal charges against Bush and Cheney and their aides, hold a hearing in Congress on those charges, and then hand down the punishment, prison time. Reik expressed frustration with the refusal of Bush administration officials to testify before congressional committees, despite the fact that subpoenas had been issued.
"Your witnesses aren't showing up -- They're ignoring your subpoenas," said Reik, "so it is time for you, Congressman Waxman, to recognize that there is a precedent for members of congress to initiate criminal proceedings."
Waxman said he was unaware of the "inherent contempt" power. In a follow-up letter after the meeting, Winograd emailed him information on the "inherent contempt" precedent.
While only six months ago, Congressman Waxman ruled out impeachment, this time he indicated he would go forward with an open mind, all the while praising participants for their passion and urging them to lobby the members of the House Judiciary Committee.
Phone: (202) 225-3976 . Fax: (202) 225-4099
