The U.S. House is voting on the Trump impeachment. Where Pa’s House delegation stands, what they’re saying

On Wednesday. the majority-Democrat House will vote on two articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump.

Most observers agree the chamber will vote on party lines to send the charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress to the U.S. Senate for trial. Those same observers believe that the majority-Republican Senate will swiftly vote to acquit Trump of the charges.

Debate is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. in the House, with a vote coming later in the day on Wednesday. Trump is holding a campaign-style rally in Battle Creek, Mich. on Wednesday evening. It’s likely that he will be mid-rally when the vote comes down.

This is where all 18 members of Pennsylvania’s U.S. House delegation stand on impeachment. All nine of the state’s Democratic members of Congress support impeachment.

U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, R-1st District: The Bucks County lawmaker is a “no” vote on impeachment. He told the Morning Call of Allentown that “This was never intended to be a legitimate fact-finding mission from the start,” Fitzpatrick said. “This has been so blatantly partisan from day one.”

U.S. Rep. Brendan Boyle, D-2nd District: The Philadelphian is a “yes” vote.

"Of the now 4 impeachment processes we have had in American history–this is the most serious. Because this one actually involved the national security of the United States." pic.twitter.com/itNn61zoCq

— Rep. Brendan Boyle (@CongBoyle) December 16, 2019

U.S. Rep. Dwight Evans, D-3rd District: The Philadelphia Democrat is a “yes” vote. In a statement in the wake of the House committee vote green-lighting the articles, Evans said the vote was a “somber” one.

U.S. Rep. Madeleine Dean, D-4th District: Dean, a member of the House Judiciary Committee, is a “yes” vote.

The facts are undisputed and undenied — the President abused his power and betrayed his oath of office. The whistleblower complaint was corroborated by countless witnesses even with an unprecedented level of Obstruction of Congress.#DefendOurDemocracy https://t.co/UmQE8JRJYb

— Congresswoman Madeleine Dean (@RepDean) December 17, 2019

U.S. Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon, D-5th District: Scanlon, the vice-chairwoman of the House Judiciary Committee, is a “yes” vote.

Let me break this down for you… #DefendOurDemocracy #ImpeachmentDebate pic.twitter.com/sgOpHw628v

— Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon (@RepMGS) December 12, 2019

U.S. Rep. Chrissy Houlahan, D-6th District: Houlahan, of Chester County, was the last Democrat to announce her support.

On both Articles of Impeachment – that of the abuse of power and that of the obstruction of Congress – I will vote to impeach this President. After deep reflection, I believe this is the right thing to do for our nation and consistent with my oath of office. Full statement below: pic.twitter.com/eNVFGG1oM4

— Chrissy Houlahan (@RepHoulahan) December 17, 2019

U.S. Rep. Susan Wild, D-7th District: The Lehigh Valley lawmaker is a “yes” vote on both articles, she told her hometown Morning Call.

U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright, D-8th District: In an op-Ed for his hometown Wilkes-Barre Times-Leader, the NePa Dem said “the evidence, and lack of any rebuttal, point clearly to President Trump’s attempt to use taxpayer funds to bribe a foreign leader for the sole purpose of boosting his own political prospects. In the process, he threatened our national security, jeopardized the integrity of our democracy, and since then has obstructed justice by refusing to obey properly issued subpoenas. I believe there is sufficient evidence of these things to warrant further proceedings. So I will vote to send this matter to the Senate, where at long last we may well hear an innocent explanation for all of it. Despite every indication that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has prejudged the outcome, I hope he will join us in a serious endeavor to find the truth.

U.S. Rep. Dan Meuser, R-9th District: On his Facebook page, Meuser said he is a “hell no” on impeachment.

U.S. Rep. Scott Perry, R-10th District: The central Pennsylvania Republican is in the White House’s corner.

Democrats on the Judiciary Committee just admitted they can determine what evidence they choose to use to impeach the President. Agreed. Republicans just think impeachment ought to be based on High Crimes and Misdemeanors, not because Dems don’t like the President.

— RepScottPerry (@RepScottPerry) December 12, 2019

U.S. Rep. Lloyd Smucker, R-11th District: The Lancaster County Republican is a “no” vote. A retweet from his account:

Nothing about this sham impeachment is like 1998. In 1998, we followed rules and had bipartisan support to move forward. Fast forward to 2019: the Dems have no case, no rules, and can't even get the support of their whole party. What a sham. pic.twitter.com/zeTsFXqXLX

— Newt Gingrich (@newtgingrich) December 18, 2019

U.S. Rep. Fred Keller, R-12th District: 

House Democrats have been obsessed with impeaching President Trump since the day he was sworn in to office.

Their partisan sham has left them without
❌Facts
❌Evidence
❌Reason

It's time for this baseless farce to end. https://t.co/L1Z3FLsGLA

— Congressman Fred Keller (@RepFredKeller) December 17, 2019

U.S. Rep. John Joyce, R-13th District: Like many Republicans, Joyce has dismissed impeachment as a “sham,” saying the proceedings against Trump are grounded in “disdain for President Trump and their disregard of the legitimate votes of the American people.”

U.S. Rep.Guy Reschenthaler, R-14th District: The only GOP member of the Judiciary Committee from Pennsylvania, Reschenthaler wrote on Twitter that Democrats were moving ahead with the vote because they were “ trying to oust [Trump] because they’re terrified he will win re-election.”

Today I joined @JudiciaryGOP to vote against the articles of impeachment, which passed on a party line vote for the first time in our nation's history. This whole investigation is a sham, Dems are trying to oust @realDonaldTrump because they're terrified he will win re-election. pic.twitter.com/xroI9hh9uv

— Rep. Guy Reschenthaler (@GReschenthaler) December 13, 2019

U.S. Rep. Glenn ‘GT’ Thompson, R-15th District:  “Impeachment has been a foregone conclusion for the Democrats. By politicizing the most severe powers reserved for Congress, they will undoubtedly leave a lasting stain on the institution. After considering all of the information presented, I have only heard emotional arguments that do not rise to the level of impeachment. Therefore, I will not vote in favor of the articles of impeachment. The American people deserve much better than this spectacle, and I encourage my colleagues to refrain from trying to score cheap political points on the campaign trail and get back to the people’s work,” Thompson said in a statement obtained by The Morning Call.

U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly, R-16th District:  Writing on Twitter, the NWPA lawmaker said he’s a “no” vote on both articles.

Democrats have made it crystal clear all along that the drive for impeachment is about political vengeance & damaging @POTUS @realDonaldTrump ahead of the 2020 election.

I will vote against both articles of impeachment on the House floor.

— Rep. Mike Kelly (@MikeKellyPA) December 13, 2019

U.S. Rep. Conor Lamb, D-17th District: Lamb is a “yes” vote. Lamb told WESA-FM in Pittsburgh that he “[thinks] the articles were pretty carefully written and that they match the evidence that I’ve spent a lot of time reviewing …  And so I intend to support both articles.”

U.S. Rep. Mike Doyle, D-18th District: The dean of Pennsylvania’s Democratic House delegation is a ‘yes’ vote.

“I will vote yes on both articles of impeachment,” Doyle wrote on Twitter. “I believe that the evidence is overwhelming that the President abused his power and obstructed Congress, both of which are impeachable offenses under the Constitution.”

I will vote yes on both articles of impeachment. I believe that the evidence is overwhelming that the President abused his power and obstructed Congress, both of which are impeachable offenses under the Constitution.

— Mike Doyle (@USRepMikeDoyle) December 11, 2019