As we all suspected, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) has extended proxy voting again.
Even though most would agree that COVID Is no longer “pandemic” status, she continues a policy that was put in place to keep members safe during the height of the pandemic.
Make no mistake about it, this is a powerplay by Pelosi to ensure she keeps her slim advantage when they try to ram through legislation during the waning days of this term.
Keep the Power
This has been the most abused policy that we have seen in Congress.
Even though the policy was supposed to be used to keep members of Congress safe at home, they are instead racking up vacations and travel expenses, often campaigning for other members, when using their proxy votes.
This has been abused on both sides, but Democrats have used it far more than Republicans.
For instance, Rep. Sharice Davids (D-KS) cited the pandemic, yet she was racking up $1,000/night hotel bills while attending fundraisers.
Over 150 House members were so confident the order would be extended, they already have proxy letters on file.
Do the math… that means a third of the House will not be present to vote on the big spending bill that is expected to hit the floor on Friday.
Among the top names that will be missing the vote are Reps. Jamaal Bowman (D-N.Y.), Cori Bush (D-MO), James Comer (D-KY), Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), and Pramila Jayapal (D-WA).
So, virtually the entire Squad has something more important to do other than to vote on the mega-spending bill.
On the right, once again, Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO) will not be at the vote.
I mention it here because her name has come up quite often on this front, and I would be a hypocrite for not calling her out for abusing the rule.
The fact Republicans are even using this rule is one of the reasons that I want to see House Minority Leader McCarthy replace in leadership.
He has vowed to end this rule if the GOP takes back control, but he should have also forbid members to use the proxy voting and set the example by having a full contingent for every vote.
Sources: Fox News & Washington Free Beacon
