Fiscal Note
No appropriation required.
Title
Urging Congress to begin impeachment investigations against President Bush and Vice President Cheney.
Body
WHEREAS, the Constitution provides for impeachment of high government officials for "treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors"; and
WHEREAS, conduct that undermines the integrity of a public office or is in disregard of constitutional duties or involves abuse of power is generally regarded as grounds for impeachment; and
WHEREAS, President George W. Bush and Vice President Richard B. Cheney conspired with others to defraud the United States of America by intentionally misleading Congress and the public regarding the threat from Iraq in order to justify a war in violation of Title 18 United States Code, Section 371; and
WHEREAS, President George W. Bush violated the United Nation's Charter and the United States Constitution by launching an illegal "War of Aggression" against Iraq without cause in violation of U.N. General Assembly Resolution 3314, Article VI, paragraph 2 of the US Constitution and U.S. Federal Law 18 U.S.C. ยง 2441 (War Crimes Act of 1996); and
WHEREAS, President Bush has admitted to ordering the National Security Agency to conduct electronic surveillance of American civilians without seeking warrants from the Foreign Intelligence Court of Review, duly constituted by Congress in 1978, in violation of Title 50 United States Code, Section 1805; and
WHEREAS, President George W. Bush and Vice President Richard B. Cheney conspired to commit the torture of prisoners in violation of the "Federal Torture Act" Title 18 United States Code, Section 113C, the UN Torture Convention and the Geneva Convention, which under Article VI of the Constitution are part of "the supreme Law of the Land"; and
WHEREAS, in all of this, President Bush and Vice President Cheney have acted in a manner contrary to their trust as President and Vice President, subversive of constitutional government to the great prejudice of the cause of law and justice, and to the manifest injury of the people of the City of Madison, Dane County and the United States of America; and
WHEREAS, the cost of war is enormous in both the loss of lives and in dollars. Thus far the number of Wisconsin troop deaths is 73 and 486 wounded for a total of 559 persons. Dane County's portion of the cost of the war is over $1.8 billion and the estimated cost for Wisconsin is approximately $6.863 billion; and
WHEREAS, the Constitution specifies that "the House of Representatives...shall have the sole power of impeachment" while the "the Senate shall have the sole power to try all impeachments";
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that President George W. Bush and Vice President Richard B. Cheney, by such conduct, warrant impeachment investigations and trial.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City of Madison Clerk be, and is hereby, instructed to certify to the Speaker of the House of Representatives a copy of this resolution and its adoption by the Common Council of the City of Madison, as a petition, and request that this petition be delivered to the Office of the Clerk and entered into the United States Congressional Journal.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Common Council of the City of Madison urges the United States House of Representatives to begin the impeachment process by referring the investigation to the Judiciary Committee.
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be sent to Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin and Senators Herb Kohl and Russell Feingold.