Impeachment bill could be more than symbolic

A resolution introduced by two Democratic state senators calling for the impeachment of President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney, if it’s approved, might be more than symbolic – it might have an effect on the actions of lawmakers in Washington.

The resolution by New Mexico Sens. Gerald Ortiz y Pino, D-Albuquerque, and John Grubesic, D-Santa Fe, invokes Section 603 of Thomas Jefferson’s Rules on Parliamentary Practice, part of the rules of the House of Representatives. That section essentially grants state legislatures the power to set impeachment proceedings in motion.

Here’s the full text of Jefferson 603, courtesy of the Cincinnati Beacon:

“… there are various methods of setting an impeachment in motion: by charges made on the floor on the responsibility of a Member or Delegate; by charges preferred by a memorial, which is usually referred to a committee for examination; by a resolution dropped in the hopper by a Member and referred to a committee; by a message from the President; by charges transmitted from the legislature of a State or territory or from a grand jury…”

What exactly that means is still under discussion. Does it mean such a resolution has to be introduced in the U.S. House if it’s approved by a state Legislature? Does it mean the House has to debate impeachment?

Since he’s the lone Democrat from New Mexico in the U.S. House and might have a role to play in the process, U.S. Rep. Tom Udall’s staff has been looking into the situation in recent days.

“We are looking into it, and Congressman Udall will continue to closely monitor the progress of the resolution in the state Legislature,” said Udall press secretary Marissa Padilla.

It won’t likely become an issue. Senate Joint Resolution 5 was introduced Tuesday by Ortiz y Pino and Grubesic and was assigned to three committees. That’s generally considered the kiss of death from Senate leadership, as the bill would have to pass three committees and a vote of the full Senate before moving to the House for consideration.

No Republicans in the state Senate support the resolution. Democrats have been quiet, but many are expected to hold to U.S. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi’s statement that impeachment “is off the table.”

The resolution accuses the president and vice president of intentionally misleading Congress about the war in Iraq, violating Americans’ civil liberties and torturing prisoners of war.

Though no state’s lawmakers have approved a measure invoking the Jefferson rule, New Mexico is the fourth state to consider it. California’s Legislature is currently considering a similar proposal.