Republican Congressman Breaks From Party

Well, it seems like more and more Congressional Republicans have been breaking away from the straight party vote — Maine’s Olympia Snowe comes to mind; she’s repeatedly shown she can make up her own mind no matter how her party if voting.

Anyway, now Iowa Congressman Jim Leach, a member of the House International Relations Committee, is taking things a step further from the party line. He’s co-sponsoring California Congresswoman Barbara Lee’s (D) Resolution of Inquiry into Bush Administration communications with the U.K. about Iraq. So far only Democrats have been involved in requesting an investigation and cosponsoring the Resolution (H. Res 375). The Resolution apparently must be brought to a vote in the House International Relations Committee by September 16th, or Lee is permitted to demand a vote of the full House.

H. Res. 375

Requesting the President and directing the Secretary of State to transmit to the House of Representatives not later than 14 days after the date of the adoption of this resolution all information in the possession of the President and the Secretary of State relating to communication with officials of the United Kingdom between January 1, 2002, and October 16, 2002, relating to the policy of the United States with respect to Iraq. [“H. Res. 375: Requesting the President and directing the Secretary of State to transmit to the House of…” (GovTrack.us)]

The International Relations Committee has 27 Republican members and 23 Democratic members. Thus far 10 of the Democrats have co-sponsored the Resolution. If the other 13 vote for it as well, then along with Leach, one more Republican vote will be needed for a tie, or two more for passage.

Leach has questioned Bush’s war policies for years and was one of five Republicans in May to vote for Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey’s amendment requiring an exit strategy. Another of those five, Congressman Ron Paul of Texas, also serves on the International Relations Committee. [“Republican Congressman Breaks Ranks, Joins Demand for Documents on Downing Street Memos” (Political Affairs Magazine)]

It’s nice to know that not all our our Congressmen have sold their souls to the party line. I like to think our Congressmen, whatever the party, will act in the best interest of their constituents and the American public and not just follow blindly along as party leaders instruct them to do. I mean, if I expect the average person to vote intelligently and not just vote the way someone told them to, I should expect my political representatives to do the same — do their own research and vote based on their own opinion and what they think is right.

As for the resolution, personally, I believe we deserve to know the truth and if the White House has nothing to hide, what would it hurt to hand over the information asked for? After all, I’ve been told that if I have nothing to hide, I shouldn’t care if the FBI can look at my library records. It seems only fair.

Be sure to contact your Congressional representatives and ask them to support the Resolution! You can even do it via web. (I got a nice letter from one of my Senators regarding my email on The Patriot Act.)

Tags: Republicans, Olympia Snowe, HR375, Iraq, UK, Democrats, Jim Leach