Illinois Democratic lawmakers split on Trump impeachment resolution; mirror national divide

WASHINGTON — The Democratic-controlled House on Wednesday voted to table a motion to immediately impeach President Donald Trump, with Illinois Democrats divided on the delay tactic.

It’s not that any Illinois Democrat wouldn’t want Trump out of office as he plunges to new lows with his racist attacks on four freshmen female lawmakers of color.

At issue is whether the timing is right as the House has multiple investigations going on, former Russia probe special counsel Robert Mueller has yet to testify and impeachment proceedings now may backfire on Democrats.

How to handle impeachment is an issue that is dividing Democrats, and Illinois lawmakers mirror those splits.

The vote, on an articles of impeachment resolution filed by Rep. Al Green, D-Texas, failed on a vote of 332 to 95, with one lawmaker voting “present.”

All Republicans voting — 194 — and 137 Democrats voted to table.

A total of 95 Democrats voted against the motion to table.

Illinois sends 13 Democrats to Congress.

Four opposed the motion to table — Danny Davis; Jesus “Chuy” Garcia; Robin Kelly; and Jan Schakowsky, all progressive Democrats.

Nine voted to table: Bobby Rush; Dan Lipinski; Mike Quigley; Sean Casten; Raja Krishnamoorthi; Bill Foster; Brad Schneider; Lauren Underwood; and Cheri Bustos.

Lipinski said in a statement, “If the President is going to be impeached there must be a much stronger case than the one in Congressman Green’s resolution. House committees are still investigating and Special Counsel Mueller will be testifying next week. That was the basis of my vote to table the impeachment resolution.”

Speaker Nancy Pelosi earlier on Wednesday signaled she did not want Green’s measure to advance.

At an evening campaign rally, citing the robust roll call in his favor, Trump told the crowd the House just “overwhelmingly voted to kill” the impeachment resolution.

“This is perhaps the most ridiculous and time-consuming project I have ever had to work on.”

FOSTER GETS PRIMARY

Foster is getting a primary challenger from the left for the suburban 11th Congressional District Seat. Will County Board Rachel Ventura, a progressive from Joliet, jumped in the March primary against Foster, who lives in Naperville. As of June 30, Foster has $3,104,802.93 cash-on-hand in his political war chest.