Despite Trump Abuses, 208 House Republicans Vote Against Bill to Ensure 'No President Is Above the Law'
by Brett Wilkens
December 9, 2021
https://www.commondreams.org/news/2021/ ... -president
Introduction:
(Common Dreams) As the Democrat-led U.S. House of Representatives voted Thursday almost entirely along party lines in favor of proposed legislation to curb executive power and bolster transparency, proponents of the bill urged the Senate to pass the measure to help "restore the balance of powers and fix our democracy."
House lawmakers voted 220-208 in favor of H.R. 5314*, the Protecting Our Democracy Act, with just one Republican, Rep. Adam Kinzinger of Illinois, joining every Democrat except two who did not vote in approving the measure (the full roll call is here: https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/2021440).
The proposed legislation, which was introduced by House Intelligence Committee Chair Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), would require presidents and vice presidents, as well as major-party presidential and vice-presidential candidates, to disclose their income tax returns. It would also increase penalties for violations of the Hatch Act, ban presidential self-pardons, and strengthen Justice Department and congressional subpoena powers, among other reforms.
*https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-con ... /5314/text