[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 166 (Tuesday, December 4, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Page S12386]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    AUTHORIZING LEGAL REPRESENTATION

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the Senate proceed 
to the immediate consideration of S. Res. 186, submitted earlier today 
by the majority leader.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
  The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 186) to authorize representation of 
     Senator Lott in the case of Lee v. Lott.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, this resolution concerns a civil action 
commenced in the United States District Court for the Southern District 
of Mississippi. The lawsuit, filed by a prolife, pro se plaintiff, 
names Senator Lott as the sole defendant. The plaintiff has filed a 
number of prior lawsuits against other public officials, which have 
been dismissed by several courts.
  In this action, the plaintiff calls upon Senator Lott to commence 
impeachment proceedings against the United States Supreme Court for its 
ruling in Bush v. Gore. The plaintiff contends that because the Supreme 
Court's decision in that case was unlawful, all actions taken by 
President George Bush are unconstitutional, including one allegedly 
denying him disability benefits. This resolution authorizes the Senate 
Legal Counsel to represent Senator Lott in this suit to move for its 
dismissal. Of course, under the Constitution, it is the House of 
Representatives, not the Senate, that initiates impeachment proceedings 
and the judgment of neither House in impeachment matters is the subject 
of judicial review.
  Mr. REID. I ask unanimous consent the resolution and its preamble be 
agreed to en bloc, the motion to reconsider be laid on the table, and 
that statements by the majority leader be printed in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 186) was agreed to.
  The preamble were agreed to.
  (The resolution, with its preamble, is printed in today's Record 
under ``Submitted Resolutions.'')

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