Rep. Tammy Baldwin Weighing Re-hoppering Her Bill in 111th Session Repealing B&C’s Constitutional Violations

By Barbara Ellis, National Impeachment Network

Over the holidays, Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) will be weighing updating her house resolution (H.RES 1509) hoppered in late September that repeals most of the violations of the U.S. Constitution committed by the Bush regime. More may be known after the holidays.

That was the phone message to us Monday from a staff member.

The resolution expresses the view of the House and can lead to action, especially if a Senate member files a bill "expressing the sense of Congress," we were told. NIN coordinators/members and other impeachment groups were urged to seek such a Senator. Let's find one as well as co-sponsors both in the House and Senate by January 7. Congress reconvenes Jan. 8. And call: 1-800-828-0498. The House possibilities are listed at the bottom of this newsletter, and among the Senators, consider Russ Feingold, Chris Dodd, Robert Byrd, Ted Kennedy, Patrick Leahy, and/or Jim Webb.

H.RES 1509 was referred to four House committees assigned by Speaker Nancy Pelosi: Judiciary, Armed Services, Foreign Affairs, and Intelligence (permanent select). The bill has no co-sponsors as yet.

Baldwin’s bill lists 16 steps to repeal Bush precedents ultimately destroying the U.S. Constitution and, thus, nullifying Congress and instituting dictatorial rule. Among the steps are investigation/accountability of Bush/Cheney high crimes, mandating obedience to subpoenas, ending war crimes (rendition/torture), restoring habeas corpus/Congress right to declare war, and reforming pardoning and signing-statement practices.

The text is available on the following URL:

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/queryu/z?c110:H.RES.1509

Senate/House bills waiting for a committee(s) vote automatically “die” at the end of the two-year Congressional session. So Baldwin either would have to re-file the present or updated bill in the new session.

The Congresswoman and her staff have discussed such a refiling, but no decision on action has been determined. Among the considerations was feasibility of passage in light of the heavy economic agenda being pursued both by President-elect Obama and House/Senate members.

Although the current push by millions of activists for impeachment and preventing Bush from abusing pardoning power may not succeed , Baldwin ’s bill represents the ultimate aims of both actions to save the Constitution. Current estimates on NIN membership around the country are nearly 200,000.

It was pointed out that most NIN members would support an updated bill because it directly addresses illegal precedents now established for future presidents. Baldwin’s warning at the July 25 House Judiciary committee session on impeachment heavily emphasized such precedential dangers to the Constitution and democracy:

On January 20, this Administration will hand off a toolbox with more powers than any President has ever had. More power than the Founders could have imagined. Whoever gets it, one of the things we know about power is that people...don’t give it up. The only way we can take tools out of that box is if we sanction now and say the next president cannot govern as these men have....I firmly believe that impeachment hearings are the appropriate and necessary next step.