(Promoting – promoted by mataliandy)

There must be something about the name Taylor that generates extra spine.

First we heard about Jeffry Taylor of Rutland, who took that small, first step toward holding our President accountable for his actions.

Now we hear about Harry Taylor of Charlotte, North Carolina, daring to stand up and speak the truth directly to the President, despite being surrounded by people he believed were hostile to his ideals:

I feel like despite your rhetoric, that compassion and common sense have been left far behind during your administration, and I would hope from time to time that you have the humility and the grace to be ashamed of yourself inside yourself. And I also want to say I really appreciate the courtesy of allowing me to speak what I’m saying to you right now. That is part of what this country is about.

Tomorrow is a potentially historic moment for Vermont.  The Democratic Party State Committee will hold vote on several resolutions designed to hold the President accountable.

The two primary differences among the resolutions are process-related. Do the people of Vermont ask their legislature to transmit articles of impeachment to the US House, or do we ask the legislature to support existing legislation already in committee at the national level.

I have never wavered in my opinion about which to support.  In fact, I was the one “no” in my county last night when the county voted to support what is known as the Grand Isle resolution (amended for Orange County and to add the Vice President). This resolution begins by stating clearly that the President has committed impeachable offenses, but concludes by asking for an investigation into whether he has committed impeachable offenses. It says we support the work already being done at the national level, but leaves it at that.

My concern with that approach is that it removes a very powerful tool from the hands of all members of Congress who feel that the President must be held accountable: the power of privilege.

Here’s how it works, certain types of bills are granted special rights according to the rules of the house.  Impeachment is one of those.  These rights, called a “point of privilege,” allow any house member to bring a resolution or bill to the floor, to be read into the record. A privileged resolution can be brought to the floor at any time by any member. It can be accompanied by a statement relating to it. So for example, the member could simply ask that the request of the people be honored by initiating a full and independent investigation of the charges listed in the resolution, to be followed by impeachment should the charges be proved by the investigation.

It can be brought to the floor again if any time any foul offense of the administraton is revealed.  The Rutland Resolution gives the power of privilege to the US House, specifically because it calls for impeachment. Calling for an investigation does not gove the power of privilege.

US House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi has used privilege to call for investigation of House ethics rules very effectively. Getting the House cover-up into the Congressional Record over and over again (11 times so far).  The Rutland Resolution will allow the same to be done regarding the President’s high crimes and misdemeanors and the associated cover-up.

In addition, a resolution passed up to the US House from  a state legislature, at the behest of the citizens of that state, sends a very different and powerful message than a resolution that says “stay the course.”

My position is guided in part by President Teddy Roosevelt, who once said, “Walk Softly, but carry a big stick.”

I hope that tomorrow’s vote will be a vote for accountability that also hands the “big stick” of privilege to the Congress, since they already have “walking softly” down to an art form. The future of my children – and our country – may depend on it.

No matter what the outcome of tomorrow’s vote, it will still be a vote for accountability, and for that, I am grateful. It makes me proud to be a Vermonter.