DATE=12/16/98 TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-243123 TITLE=CONGRESS / IMPEACHMENT (L-ONITER) BYLINE=PAULA WOLFSON DATELINE=CAPITOL HILL CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: THE U-S HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES IS MEETING TODAY (THURSDAY -- BEGINNING AT 15 HOURS UTC/10 A.M. EST) IN A SPECIAL POST-ELECTION SESSION. BUT MEMBERS WILL NOT BE DEBATING IMPEACHMENT CHARGES AGAINST PRESIDENT CLINTON. V-O-A'S PAULA WOLFSON REPORTS, THEY WILL BE SHOWING THEIR SUPPORT FOR U-S TROOPS INVOLVED IN MILITARY ACTION AGAINST IRAQ. TEXT: THE OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT CAME FROM INCOMING HOUSE SPEAKER BOB LIVINGSTON. HE SAYS THE FATE OF U-S TROOPS IN THE GULF IS PARAMOUNT -- AND TALK OF IMPEACHMENT AND THE WHITE HOUSE SEX SCANDAL CAN WAIT. /// FIRST LIVINGSTON ACT /// WE ARE GOING TO THE FLOOR OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND WE ARE GOING TO ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT WITH THE DEMOCRATS -- WHO WILL JOIN WITH US IN A BIPARTISAN EXERCISE -- TO PASS A RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT FOR OUR TROOPS. /// END ACT /// AFTER A FEW HOURS OF DEBATE (TODAY/THURSDAY) ON THE IRAQ RESOLUTION, ALL FURTHER LEGISLATIVE BUSINESS IN THE HOUSE WILL BE PUT ON HOLD. MR. LIVINGSTON WILL NOT SAY EXACTLY WHEN THE IMPEACHMENT DEBATE WILL COMMENCE, BUT HE IS ADVISING LAWMAKERS TO STAY CLOSE TO THE CAPITOL. /// SECOND LIVINGSTON ACT /// WE ARE GOING TO ASK THAT ALL MEMBERS -- REPUBLICAN AND DEMOCRAT -- REMAIN AVAILABLE TO THE CALL OF THE CHAIR [STAY IN TOWN UNTIL THE PRESIDING OFFICER CALLS THEM BACK TO THE HOUSE CHAMBER] FOR FURTHER ACTION -- POSSIBLY FRIDAY, POSSIBLY SATURDAY, BUT WITHIN THE NEAR FUTURE. /// END ACT /// THE INCOMING SPEAKER ACKNOWLEDGES SOME MEMBERS OF HIS PARTY WERE RELUCTANT TO DELAY ACTION ON IMPEACHMENT. WHEN ASKED ABOUT THE TIMING OF THE AIR STRIKES -- ON THE EVE OF THE PLANNED DEBATE -- THE LOUISIANA REPUBLICAN WAS DIPLOMATIC. /// THIRD LIVINGSTON ACT /// THE FACT IS, THERE HAS BEEN OTHER LEGISLATION [HE MEANT THE ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT] ON OUR MINDS THE LAST FEW DAYS. THE COINCIDENCE OF THAT LEGISLATION AND THE ACTION OF OUR GOVERNMENT IS UNIQUE. THAT'S ALL I'LL SAY ABOUT THAT. /// END ACT /// OTHER REPUBLICANS WERE MORE DIRECT. IN A WRITTEN STATEMENT, SENATOR TRENT LOTT CRITICIZED THE PRESIDENT'S DECISION TO LAUNCH MILITARY ATTACKS ON IRAQ. THE SENATE MAJORITY LEADER SAID THE TIMING IS SUSPECT, AND SO IS THE POLICY. IT WAS A RARE BREACH OF A WASHINGTON TRADITION -- THAT CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS STAND BEHIND WITH THE PRESIDENT AT THE START OF A MILITARY OPERATION. BUT THESE ARE NOT ORDINARY TIMES. THE IMPEACHMENT PROCESS HAS POISONED RELATIONS BETWEEN THE PRESIDENT AND THE REPUBLICAN-CONTROLLED LEGISLATURE. THE STRAINS PROMPTED HOUSE DEMOCRATIC PARTY LEADER RICHARD GEPHARDT TO URGE ALL LAWMAKERS TO PUT THEIR DIVISIONS ASIDE, AND SEND A UNIFIED MESSAGE TO IRAQ. /// GEPHARDT ACT /// WE NEED TO SAY TO SADDAM HUSSEIN, IN THE CLEAREST POSSIBLE TERMS, THAT WHATEVER DOMESTIC DIFFERENCES AND DEBATES WE HAVE, WE ARE ONE, AND WE ARE UNIFIED ON STANDING AGAINSU HIS WRONG-DOING. /// END ACT /// THE MILITARY ACTION IN IRAQ AND THE DELAY IN THE IMPEACHMENT DEBATE ARE NOT EXPECTED TO HAWE AN IMPACT ON THE OUTCOME OF THE HOUSE VOTE ON THE CHARGES AGAINST BILL CLINTON. THE VOTE IS EXPECTED TO SPLIT LARGELY ALONG PARTY LINES. ONLY THREE REPUBLICANS HAVE ANNOUNCED THEIR INTENTION TO OPPOSE IMPEACHMENT -- AND ONLY THREE DEMOCRATS HAVE DECLARED PLANS TO VOTE YES. IT WILL BE THE FIRST HOUSE IMPEACHMENT VOTE AGAINST A PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES IN 130 YEARS. FOUR CHARGES AGAINST BILL CLINTON WILL BE CONSIDERED -- ALL STEMMING FROM HIS EFFORTS TO HIDE AN EXTRAMARITAL AFFAIR. IF A MAJORITY IN THE HOUSE VOTES TO IMPEACH MR. CLINTON, A SENATE TRIAL WILL DETERMINE THE FATE OF HIS PRESIDENCY. (SIGNED) NEB/PW/WTW 16-Dec-98 11:02 PM EST (0402 UTC) NNNN Source: Voice of America .
