Tell Delegates to Vote NO on HJR 2

Friends,

On Monday March 1, the House will be voting on HJR 2, a dangerous, unnecessary amendment to our state consitution. This bill would cut loose future impeachment proceedings of the WV Legislature from all constitutional restraint.

This constitutional amendment would make it so that no state court could intervene to protect the right to a fair hearing of a public official facing impeachment, no matter how frivolous the charge or constitutionally flawed the process.

In the hands of a partisan majority, this new power could be abused to oust political opponents without cause, thereby eroding existing checks and balances between the three branches of government and undercutting public trust in the political process.

The House Judiciary Committee recommended the resolution be adopted. The House will be reading it for third time this Monday. Voting will follow.

Contact your Delegate(s) TODAY!
Tell them to vote NO on HJR 2, and reject this dangerous, unnecessary amendment to our constitution!

Talking points about HJR 2:

• It’s a power grab. HJR 2 would cut loose future impeachment proceedings of the state legislature from all constitutional restraint. The amendment would make it so that no court in the state could intervene to protect the right to a fair hearing of a public official facing impeachment, no matter how frivolous the charge or constitutionally flawed the process.
• It’s unnecessary. The legislature held and continues to hold sole authority over impeachment proceedings. In 2018, panel of acting justices agreed, holding the House’s impeachment vote was constitutionally and procedurally flawed, while stressing that its decision had no relevance as to whether the legislature has the power to impeach a justice, a power which is already laid out clearly in Article 4 of the state constitution. Despite this, West Virginia House of Delegate members now claim, falsely, that they’ve been stripped of their ability to impeach.
• It’s dangerous. HJR 2 could lead to frequent hyper-partisan and frivolous impeachment efforts as a method of political retribution. West Virginians should know how vital checks and balances between the three branches of government are to securing their rights as voters, business owners, workers, and members of the community. HJR 2 threatens to undermine the public trust of all West Virginians in the political process.

Yours for Action,

Julie Archer
Coordinator, WV Citizens for Clean Elections