House back in session this week; many Democrats staying home
The House of Representatives will meet this week to consider several non-coronavirus related bills. It will be the first time the House convenes since passing its new proxy voting rules which allows members to phone in their vote from home.
The House will vote this week on the federal Paycheck Protection Program to give small businesses additional time to use emergency loans provided under the CARES Act. They will also vote on a measure to reauthorize expired federal surveillance laws.
House Minority Whip Steve Scalise sent out a notice last week encouraging all GOP members who were able to safely return to the Capitol to do so. As of Tuesday, it was likely that all Republican members would be present.
That’s a sharp contrast to the nearly three dozen Democrats that have announced their plans to vote by proxy.
House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer told reporters Tuesday that proxy voting is crucial because there are members who have health concerns, face travel hardships and are worried about contracting the disease and exposing it to family members.
“We believe proxy voting is not only consistent with the Constitution but consistent with the responsibility a member has to express the view of their constituents — whether or not they can get to Washington, D.C.,” said Hoyer.
The Senate, which only has 100 members compared to more than 400 House members, returned in May and employed social distancing practices. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has spoken out against House leadership and their lack of work the past few weeks.
“At this point, I’m wondering if we should send senators over there to collect their newspaper and water the plants,” McConnell said on the floor last week.
Republican Congressman Brad Wenstrup told Fox News that it’s amazing that under the new House rules members can now vote present even while they are physically absent.
“This is not leadership. I served in the military. You’re not leading when you don’t show up,” Wenstup said. “The American people need to see that we will go to work and proxy voting is not the way to do that.”
The proxy voting rule change is the first time in American history that members have not had to be present in order to cast a vote on the floor. Many believe it could be setting the stage for far more dangerous measures in the future.
The House Clerk’s Office is keeping a running list of members requesting to vote proxy. You can view the list as well as read the letters submitted by members here.
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I mean why should the Democrats come back. They have not done anything for some time anyway.
If the Democrats do not show up at the House to vote. Their votes should not be counted. Because they are not there in person like normal congressmen do to vote!!!
Article 1, section 5 prevents either House from conducting their business outside of the chambers. This can only be done if the other House agrees to the rule change. Unless the Senate passes a majority resolution approving the rule change, allowing business to be conducted out of chambers, Pelosi’s rule change is Unconstitutional without the Senate approving the change. If the roles were reversed, the House would have to approve the Senate’s rule change. This is a part of the balance of powers between the bicameral Congress.
AMERICANS WE HAVE TO TAKE BACK OUR AMERICA FROM THE EVIL CRIMINAL ACTS OF DEMOCRATS………………………..TO SOLVE AMERICAS PROBLEMS MAKE THIS CHOICE WE THE PEOPLE’ HAVE THE POWER OF OUR VOICES AND OUR VOTES, TO VOTE OUT THE ENTIRE LYING,CORRUPT, TREASONOUS DEMOCRAT PARTY COME NOV 2020, VOTE TO MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN AND TO END ALL CORRUPTIONS IN WASHINGTON GOVERNMENT
“Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!” (Isaiah 5:20).
Is it not interesting President Trump flies to various States, meets innumeral number of people, and exposed to all different types of air, inside and outside of buildings. He carries on with his Job; he could hide in the basement as Joe Biden, and not attend various meetings. Yet these Representatives are not doing what they were elected to do, instead they elected to have other do their jobs for them. They voting records would not reflect the People’s vote as it was Proxied Out. No, I am sorry, but President Trump has not skipped his Responsibilities….the Democrat House of Representatives have.
The democratic-led House of Representatives have mutated into a bunch of unamerican constitutional ripping Thugs who don’t deserve to be in office they don’t obey the rules and regulations or the Constitution of the United States they just go about their business as if they owned the country Shame Shame Shame get rid of all of them I say
Democratic House of Representatives is disrespecting the Constitution of the United States and our forefathers would roll over in teir graves if they knew what was going on!!
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if someone doctored her mask with Ebola?
Lets hope that House Republican Leader McCarthy’ s law suit is looked at. I would take this immediately to the Supreme Court as the courts are to interpret the laws. Let the courts decide what is Constitutional or not Constitutional