On the recordOctober 22, 2019
Efforts to impeach the President began in January 2017 with The Washington Post reporting: ``The effort to impeach President Donald John Trump is already underway.'' This was just minutes after the President was sworn into office. Now, 4 weeks into the Speaker's unprecedented impeachment inquiry, we learn of hidden transcripts, closed-door meetings, complete disregard for transparency and process, and the House has not even been afforded the opportunity to go on record with a vote to open an inquiry. If this were serious, House Democrats would bring a vote to the floor to open a formal impeachment inquiry, but they won't do that. This is a political stunt beneath the dignity of this institution. Perhaps more egregious, this stunt has consumed valuable time that we could have used to pass meaningful legislation for all Americans: lowering prescription drugs prices, securing the border, repairing our infrastructure, and moving the USMCA trade agreement forward. Hold a vote or move on. The American people deserve better. ____________________
