It’s not going to be quite the big deal the new mothers who are federally elected representatives want
Johnson strikes deal with Luna on parental proxy voting
Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) has reached a deal with Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) over her push to allow new parents to vote by proxy, a development that is set to unlock the House floor after the explosive issue — and the GOP rebellions it sparked — brought the chamber to a standstill.
Under the agreement being worked out, the House would formalize “vote pairing,” two sources familiar with the matter confirmed to The Hill.
The procedure allows a member — in this case, a new mother — who must be absent for a vote to coordinate with a lawmaker voting opposite their stance who is willing to abstain from the vote, that way the new mother’s absence is canceled out.
As part of the deal, according to the sources, Luna would not force a vote on her discharge petition, which she successfully executed last month to dispatch Rep. Brittany Pettersen’s (D-Colo.) resolution to the floor that seeks to allow members who give birth or lawmakers whose spouses give birth to have another member vote for them for 12 weeks.
Additionally, Johnson is still looking at increasing accessibility for young mothers in the Capitol, one of the sources said, a prospect that the Speaker revealed last week. He said he is eyeing a room for nursing mothers and potentially allowing mothers of young children to use their official funds to travel between their home districts and Washington.
Proxy voting is absolutely nothing new. It has been done forever, because lawmakers have been skipping votes for one reason or another forever, though it is rarely used these days. There was no real agreement, just that two reps who would vote opposite agreed not to vote. Even though their job requires them to be present for votes. Requires them to debate it. But, hey, sometimes people get hurt. I guess Johnson is just trying to avoid a vote on the petition, which would cause issues, and would be a waste of time since the Quorum Clause requires lawmakers to be physically present to vote. If they have a problem with that, they should attempt to get an amendment passed allowing remote voting. That is the only Constitutional method that would change anything.
But, you know, it doesn’t seem like Luna has any problem speaking to the press about it. But, what of Brittany Peterson? Will she agree?
As far as I can tell, you're just fine showing up on every camera everywhere with your infant. No need for proxy voting, obviously.
— Law of Self Defense (@LawSelfDefense) April 5, 2025
She is showing up even in person to talk about it. Can her husband, and other husbands of federally elected lawmakers, not watch the baby while they do the job they campaigned for?
If they cant do the job as it exists, then dont run for office. As soon as “new Mothers” get special privileges we will see the people who buy infants, like Pete Buttigige wanting special privileges. I am a female, conservative and I resent what Luna is doing. I think Johnson’s solution is kind of like Solomon. But I bet Luna wont go for it. And why does he think the other side will be honest in its execution.?
Only white, christian, straight, property-owning males (with NO children under 18) shall be allowed to serve in our Congress, unless they have a full-time wife at home.
More Rimjob logic.
Too funny!
Bwaha! Lolgf Loser!
You missed one-they must be white, Christian, straight property-owing males that are conservatives. Come on…
Just one more reason that only white, christian, straight men of means should occupy Congress!!
We’re part way there. The majority of Senators and Representatives are millionaires and most are wise and/or lucky investors. Over 100 Congresspersons make more than 10,000 stock trades a year, usually beating the market!! True Genius.
Unfortunately for US, although in 1950 Congress was white, christian and mostly male, but today of our 535 Reps and Senators we have 66 Blacks (12%), 53 Hispanics (10%), 21 Asian-Americans (4%) and 4 native Americans!!
13 members (2.5%) of the 119th Congress are openly lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or queer (LGBTQ).
28% of Congress is now female!!
https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2025/01/21/119th-congress-brings-new-growth-in-racial-ethnic-diversity-to-capitol-hill/
Our socialist from St Louis finally gets one right:
I agree!
That said, I’ve been saying all along that congresscritters should all have remote voting enabled, so that they could, and should, spend more time back in their districts, among their constituents rather than lobbyists and the DC media.
Of course, since Democrats always vote straight lock-step party line, there is no need for proxy voting. In effect, every vote is a proxy vote. Only Republicans vote their conscience. Since it is 2025, there should be remote voting permitted and it should be available to every congressperson without the need for making excuses. As long as the system they come up with is secure and verifiable, it is like making every vote a roll call vote and that is superior to voice voting that has been done forever.
Yeah that’s it. They should go through Signal..LOL
“As long as the system they come up with is secure and verifiable”