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
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