These lawmakers sent proxies for $1.7T spending bill vote

They shaped America’s long-term spending future from the comfort of the La-Z-Boy recliner.

More than half of House members complained of illness on Friday when the House passed a $1.7 trillion appropriation bill. Instead, he chose to tap into his widely exploited COVID-era proxy voting system.

A bipartisan group of 226 members of Congress submitted a proxy to the House Clerk before Friday’s vote, informing them to nominate a colleague to vote on their behalf.

A pandemic-era policy that allows lawmakers to choose who to vote for on their behalf was enacted in 2020 by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (California Democrat). of a pandemic.

For the past two years, the proxy voting policy, known as House Resolution 8, was extended by Pelosi every 45 days, allowing lawmakers to be physically absent for monumental votes.

“Pursuant to House Resolution No. 8, I am writing to inform you of my designation of proxy for my ballot. Due to the ongoing public health emergency, I will not be physically present at the proceedings of the House I can’t.

According to Business Insider, Green is vacationing in Costa Rica.

Pelosi explained to a CNN reporter on Friday that the mass absence “has more to do with the weather than anything else.”

An analysis by CQ Roll Call in October found that more than half of the votes of 12 House Democrats were cast by proxy. Voting methods are, of course, common on days when legislators appear in or leave town.

In the summer of 2021, Rep. Mondale Jones (DN.Y.) used Pelosi’s proxy voting policy to skip over a dozen House votes, citing a “public health emergency.”

While Jones’ power of attorney was on file, he was actually attending actress Issa Rae’s lavish wedding in France.

Jones attended on Friday and voted “yes” for the Omnibus bill, which may have been one of the last votes he cast. In August, Jones lost his candidacy for a second term and lost the primary.

The five Republicans who voted for the big appropriations bill on Friday had valid powers of attorney. Rep. John Catko (RN.Y.), Jamie Herrera Butler (R-Washington), Chris Jacobs (RN.Y.), Adam Kinzinger (R-Illinois), Rodney Davis (R-Illinois) – 5 Not all will serve in the next Congress.

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R., Calif.) said on Friday that the proxy voting policy will be scrapped “on and off” in next year’s Republican-controlled House.

“Democrats care so much about the people that they’re not here to stay at home with the people and read bills and vote,” McCarthy said. I can’t believe I haven’t put a medal here for people who don’t come because they care so much.”

Rep. Chip Roy (Texas Republican) said before Friday’s House vote, “The American people are actually here for Christmas instead of trying to catch a plane when half this body votes by proxy.” deserve to be in,” he said. .

“Half of this body can’t even come here and they’re lying. They’re lying on the form saying they’re voting by proxy for COVID,” he added.

Below is a complete list of delegates who voted by proxy on the comprehensive appropriations bill.