House rejects impeachment resolution
2:48 p.m
Toolbox
Published: April 25, 2007
The Vermont House has rejected a resolution calling for a congressional impeachment investigation of President George W.Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney.
On a roll call vote of 60-87, the House voted against the resolution that the Senate passed last week. That vote came as hundreds of supporters of the resolution were gathered at the Statehouse to lobby for the measure's passage.
Rep. Thomas Koch, R-Barre Town, was the first legislator to speak out against the resolution on the floor Wednesday. Passing the resolution would add to the acrimony of modern politics and “not make our troops any safer,” he said.
“One of the lessons we learned from the Clinton impeachment is that it should not be treated lightly,” Koch said. “It ought to be reserved for the most egregious, most urgent high crimes and misdemeanors. It should not be about whether or not you support the president or the war.”
Rep. David Sunderland, R-Rutland Town, questioned if Bush’s alleged misdeeds rose to the level of impeachment. To prove his point, he referenced congressional testimony indicating that the president has the right to “wiretap terrorists” and read statements from prominent Democrats on the threat Saddam Hussein posed to the world.
“I don’t think it is the intent to impeach these other individuals based on statements made and actions taken based on the best information available at the time,” Sunderland said.
Democrats siding with House Speaker Gaye Symington in opposing the measure included Rep. David Deen of Westminister. He noted that while he “does not support this administration,” the current hearings and investigations in the U.S. Congress are working.
“I want to change this administration, but I don’t support the resolution,” Deen said. “But I don’t want anyone to misunderstand my vote as one in support of this administration.”
Rep. Christopher Pearson, P-Burlington, was one of the few representatives to speak in favor of the effort on the floor Wednesday. His yes vote was to express his “deep dissatisfaction with the direction of our country.”
“Vermonters are overwhelmingly disgruntled, but only have limited access to express their frustration,” he said. “So they turn to us, as they did on town meeting.”
13