The Democratic - led U.S. House of Representatives plan to break with 200 years of precedent this week by allowing members of Congress to vote by specify proxy during the coronavirus pandemic . The voting by proxy plan would negate cybersecurity peril posed by a true remote voting system and only allows for minute , special use of goods and services of proxies , though some GOP legislator are trying to raise a ruckus around it . The top Republican on the House Rules Committee , Representative Tom Cole , characterized the plan as “ wimpy . ”
Remote voting isprobably constitutionalgiven the considerable leeway given to Congress to see its own rule . House Majority Leader Nancy Pelosi and member of both parties were initially skeptical , though Democrats have settled on the proxy plan torestore some normalcyto votes after Republicans forceddisruptive roll - call votesthat required members trip back to DC to approve a coronavirus relief Federal Reserve note . Per BuzzFeed News , this week the House is preparing for a voter turnout to reserve members who can not attend to in mortal due to coronavirus - related travel restrictions to name another representative as their direct procurator for voting purposes . Roll Call reportedthe voter turnout may find as soon as Thursday .
“ A Member cat a balloting on behalf of another Member would be required to have precise direction from that Member on how to vote and would have to keep an eye on that direction , ” House Rules Committee chairperson Representative Jim McGovern write in a financial statement last week , harmonise to BuzzFeed . “ There would be no ability to give a general placeholder . appendage would have to aim each and every vote . ”
Photo: Patrick Semansky (AP)
The measuring stick being discussed do not let in allowing representatives to remotely attend committee hearings or work on legislating . Pelosi has stated that the Democrats only intend to raise the major power sparingly and , for now , only on outcome directly link to the pandemic . Democrats have generally been wary that the conservativist - controlled Supreme Courtcould interveneif they bar the program , with indecipherable and potentially wholesale consequences .
Some Republicans in enemy to the program have attempt to portray any try by Democrats to alter rules without bipartisan support as a betrayal of popular norm . ( Heh . ) Multiple GOP legislator — including Representatives Jim Jordan , Clay Higgins , and Andy Harris — told reporters that they play off the idea on the ground of tradition though ultimately miss the ability to stop it , according to BuzzFeed . Jordan specifically cited the interrogative sentence of what would happen during adjective votes , stating , “ It ’s guess to be in person in a debate . Because , I intend , we ’re [ a ] representative majority rule , and you want someone there interpret the element back home and agitate for the attitude and issue that you told them you ’re go to fight for . ”
“ … If they ’re determined to do it , and they have the votes , obviously they can , ” Jordan added . “ They can get it done . I reckon it ’s just untimely , just flat out wrong . ”
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A numeral of Republican legislatorsreturned to the Capitollast week in what they characterized as a protestation against popular leadership ’s refusal to force in - person votes .
Coleconceded last weekthat proxy voting may be “ the best of a series of bad choice . ” Butaccording to Politico , Cole now enunciate “ I guess you ’ll see pretty tight to universal Republican opposition . ”
“ It was probably more dangerous to get here during the Civil War , ” Cole added . “ Congress looks pretty wimpy here , in my sight . ”
Politico write that some rumors have been circulating that there could be a “ scenario in which nearly one-half of the House openly defies the new rules ”
Some GOP legislators did sign on to abipartisan letterlast month asking for House leaders to grant outside vote , while New York Representative Elise Stefanik attacked the proxy voting plan asnot go far enoughto ensure remote ballot . House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy state Republicans on Sunday that he had not yet decided whether to affirm Pelosi ’s plan .
The Senate , which is controlled by Republicans , has not approved any such program . GOP Majority Leader Mitch McConnell hasshot down the ideaas fundamentally change the bedroom ’s rules and , accord to Politico , latterly kill an try by Senator Rand Paul to contribute remote voting words to a bill .
COVID-19DEMOCRATSNancy PelosiPoliticsrepublicansTechnology
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