Key House panel sends impeachment resolution to the floor ahead of Thursday's vote
Source: CNN
(CNN)The House Rules Committee on Wednesday night advanced a resolution to establish procedures for Democrats' impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump ahead of an expected vote on the House floor Thursday.The resolution, unveiled earlier this week, allows for public impeachment hearings, the release of deposition transcripts and outlines the Judiciary Committee's role in considering potential articles of impeachment. It will be the first vote the full House has taken on the impeachment inquiry since Democratic leaders launched the probe related to an intelligence community whistleblower complaint that raised concerns in Congress about Trump's conversations with Ukraine.
Republicans on the panel offered close to 20 amendments to the resolution, all of which failed on party-line votes. They sought to give their party more of a say in impeachment hearings, such as expanding their ability to issue subpoenas to witnesses without receiving approval from Democrats on the Intelligence Committee. In the Democratic resolution, Republicans would be able to subpoena witnesses only if the Democratic chairman agrees with the request or if a majority of the committee approves of it.
Throughout the markup, Republicans aired complaints that they were not included in the drafting of the resolution. Rep. Tom Cole, the top Republican on the Rules Committee, noted that he didn't see the resolution until it became publicly available. "It's a sad day here," the Oklahoma Republican said in his opening statement.
Asked during a break in the markup if he should have collaborated with Republicans on the resolution to try to find common ground, Rep. Jim McGovern, the Massachusetts Democrat who chairs the Rules panel, expressed skepticism. "Let's be very clear about one thing," he said. "Their sole mission is to circle the wagons around Donald Trump. They're not interested in the truth." He also defended Democrats' approach to the inquiry. "This is an open, transparent process, and I'm proud of what we've done so far," McGovern said. "I think we've conducted ourselves with dignity and respect for this institution, and I think it will stand the test of time in terms of history."
Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2019/10/30/politics/house-rules-committee-impeachment-resolution-markup/index.html
Watched it pretty much gavel to gavel (they had about an hour or so break in between to vote on other House bills and then returned). The GOP members (there were only 4) submitted 18 amendments - all were voted down 9 D - 4 R. The resolution was voted out of committee along party lines 9 D - 4 R.
The GOP amendments were nothing more than whiny demands and ridiculous picayune stuff.
ETA - this is H.R. 660 that was marked up and will be voted on tomorrow - https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-116hres660ih/pdf/BILLS-116hres660ih.pdf (PDF)
This is also a companion resolution H.R. 661 that authorizes the Office of General Counsel for the House to retain paid and/or pro bono private counsel in support of this impeachment inquiry - https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-116hres661ih/pdf/BILLS-116hres661ih.pdf (PDF)
= new reply since forum marked as read
about 7:30 pm ET tonight near the end of the markup, which basically illustrated why the rules were written the way they were. I.e., from what I recall, the questioning procedure will call for 1 hour for each side for questioning by their own legal counsel and/or committee members and then another round of follow-ons would occur for a bit less time, and so on. None of the "5 minute" disruptive grandstanding court jester performances. 
single questioner (w/associated counsel support) on Dem & GOP sides. This will allow a sustained flow to questioning with requisite follow up.
Love it, love it, love it. 
I am loving this.
Our MA Reps are rocking it. I love them all!
What Whoa GOP...
The Democrats have to be the adults in the room.
And I love love love Jamie Raskin (D - MD-8) who I just found out is only in his 2nd term (he was first elected to Congress in 2016 and served in the MD state legislature before. He was also a Constitutional Law Professor for 25 years in MD - https://bethesdamagazine.com/bethesda-beat/politics/raskin-looking-to-transfer-some-teaching-skills-from-law-school-to-capitol-hill/
He had to keep correcting the nonsense from the GOP members regarding what the House's role is and what they are expected to do!!!!!
(plus the other one in the photo - Mary Gay Scanlon - is the vice chair of the Rules Committee, is also newly-elected in 2018, is also a lawyer, and is the representative for one of my sisters (PA-5))! 
His threads are fascinating and he does quite a bit of research for them. 
