Iran War Continues as Gas Prices and National Debt Soar. Johnson Sends House Home to Avoid Hegseth Impeachment Vote
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) is the Punxsutawney Phil of Capitol Hill. Like the fabled groundhog who emerges from his burrow in the late winter, Johnson emerged from his Capitol Hill office last Wednesday, looked at Congressman Thomas Massie’s Impeachment of Secretary Hegseth, saw the shadow of defeat, quickly adjourned the House, and then burrowed back to his office until after the November General Election.
Instead of six more weeks of winter, we will have at least six more weeks of war, brought to us by Secretary Hegseth and his boss, President Trump, with the help of Speaker Johnson who avoided a procedural vote, taking it upon himself to adjourn, under the Rule 1, Clause 13, of the House of Representatives.
Consider. The Administration, compelled by Israeli interests, has driven America into a war of choice against a nation that represented no threat to our country. The war against Iran is becoming more dangerous every day, more casualties, more expense, and more devastating economic and moral consequences.
On September 15, the House of Representatives expressed its constitutional will and voted 220–204 to direct the President to end American participation in the war against Iran.
On September 16, with the House in rebellion against the war and Massie’s Article’s of Impeachment pending, Speaker Johnson failed America by shutting down the House and sending representatives home until after the November elections.
This constitutional crisis extends beyond one resolution or one cabinet secretary. The House exists as an independent branch of government, with its own authority over war, appropriations and impeachment.
The Speaker, by preventing a recorded vote on the Hegseth Impeachment and sending members home, prevented the House from exercising one of its most consequential checks on executive power. The practical effect was to protect the Administration from an immediate confrontation with a chamber that had voted to end the war.
Even without consideration of the Massie Resolution, Congress should be doing its job. Congress should have long ago cut off funds for the war against Iran and cut off all aid to Israel and their genocidal leaders.
Instead, Members have been sent home at a time when our Constitution, our laws, our lives, our liberty and our sacred honor are hostage to a runaway Presidency.
Constitution Day, September 17th, was poised to be -- and could have been a reaffirmation of the power of the people, if the House had taken up Congressman Massie’s Articles of Impeachment.
Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth would have finally be held accountable for accelerating the Iran War, following illegal orders and being instrumental in extrajudicial killings. The Administration ignores congressional directives to end the war, but it cannot ignore an impeachment.
Yet, at the Speaker’s instance, impeachment was avoided with the postponement of the vote. Here is how it happened:
Congressman Massie presented the Articles of Impeachment in an hour and a half reading in Congress.
Massie’s privileged resolution had to be considered within two legislative days. Under parliamentary procedure, however, adjournment takes precedence over other pending business, including an impeachment resolution.
Speaker Johnson short cut the process and sent Members home, avoiding a vote.
When the Congress returns after the November Election, Massie’s Articles of Impeachment - - accusing Hegseth of accelerating the Iran War, carrying out unlawful orders and participating in extrajudicial killings - - will remain among the unresolved matters.
Enough Republican members, re-elected or not, angry over the continued Iran war and high prices, could make Hegseth’s Impeachment a possibility.
A note from Dennis: Subscribers have asked, “Why not impeach the President?” Answer: When harvesting, always pick the low-hanging fruit first.
Once impeached, it won’t be only Secretary Hegseth on trial in the Senate. It will be the Iran War.
Given the President’s lack of impulse control, his repeated statements about “annihilating” Iran or “ending civilization,” together with his nonchalance about exorbitant fuel prices and Republican members of congress going down to defeat, I’d say the President himself could follow Hegseth to the Senate dock.
Meanwhile, we have another six weeks to continue calls to members of the House of Representatives demanding Secretary Hegseth be impeached.
The cost of this war is reaching every household, farm and business in America.
The national average price of gasoline has risen to approximately $4.48 a gallon, 41 percent higher than a year ago. Diesel has reached a record $6.51 a gallon, an increase of 76 percent. Diesel moves food, farm supplies, manufactured goods and nearly everything delivered by truck. The rising diesel price will be felt by the entire economy. American consumers have already paid an estimated $112 billion more at the pump since the war against Iran began.
At the same time, the national debt is approaching $40 trillion, and the cost of federal borrowing is soaring. Last week, the yield on the ten-year Treasury briefly rose above 5 percent, its highest level since 2007. Every new dollar borrowed for an illegal war adds to the unbearable interest burden of future generations.
Congress controls both the war power and the public purse. Its leader has chosen to leave Washington while the Administration continues spending money which Congress has never specifically authorized for this war.
Americans are paying for this war three times. We pay through higher prices today, higher taxes and reduced public investment tomorrow, and a mounting national debt that threatens the country’s long term economic security.
There is another price, of course. It is a moral one. Our troops’ lives are being sacrificed needlessly, innocent people are being killed and injured, America’s standing in the world is declining. For what? For whom?
PLEASE - CALL YOUR REPRESENTATIVE NOW!
Speaker Johnson sent the House home before it could vote on the Articles of Impeachment against Secretary Hegseth. The delay gives Americans several more weeks to demand accountability.
Call your representative now and ask for a clear, public commitment before the election, to support full consideration of the Articles of Impeachment.
Ask your representative to vote to advance the impeachment of Secretary Hegseth and oppose any motion to table, refer or otherwise bury the resolution.
Members of Congress are returning to their districts to campaign. Attend their town halls and public appearances. Ask them directly whether they will defend Congress’s constitutional authority over war and public spending. Ask them whether they will vote to hold Secretary Hegseth accountable.
The House leadership may have postponed the vote. It cannot prevent the American people from demanding a vote on the Rep. Massie’s Impeachment of Secretary Hegseth.
Find your representative and contact information through the official House website, or call the United States Capitol switchboard at 202-224-3121 and ask to be connected to your representative’s office. Thank you.
The Kucinich Report is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
© 2026 Dennis Kucinich
548 Market Street PMB 72296, San Francisco, CA 94104
Originally posted: https://substack.com/home/post/p-216769574
