In a surprising twist of events, President Donald Trump has expressed his support for a proposal that would permit new parents serving in Congress to cast their votes via proxy, rather than being physically present. During a conversation with reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump shared his stance, which stands in contrast to House Speaker Mike Johnson’s opposition to the initiative.
While Trump acknowledged that he would defer to Johnson’s authority concerning House procedures, he remarked, “I don’t understand why this is controversial.” The president recounted a discussion with Florida Representative Anna Paulina Luna, a primary advocate for the proxy voting suggestion.
As Trump journeyed to Florida, he explained, “If you’re having a baby, it seems reasonable to allow you to vote remotely.” This support came after Luna shared on social media that Johnson contacted her post-Trump’s comment, discussing the rationale to limit proxy voting to new mothers unable to travel due to emergencies.
The bipartisan effort, spearheaded by Luna and Democratic Representative Brittany Pettersen of Colorado, aims to permit Congress members who are new parents to vote by proxy for up to 12 weeks while tending to their newborns. Garnering significant backing, the proposal is supported by a majority in the House, with 218 members endorsing a discharge petition to advance the measure to the House floor.
However, Speaker Johnson is a vehement critic of proxy voting, arguing that it contravenes the Constitution. He referred to earlier instances during the COVID-19 pandemic when proxy voting was temporarily introduced by then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, which he claims were misused. “Republicans ended that practice, and it should not return,” Johnson stated in a comprehensive social media update. He assured efforts to find “every possible solution” other than proxy voting to support new mothers in Congress.
Despite Johnson’s attempt to block the initiative in a recent dramatic House vote, his efforts were thwarted when nine Republicans joined Democrats in opposing his plan, resulting in a 206-222 defeat. Following this, the speaker decided to cancel the week’s remaining House votes. Meanwhile, proponents of the proxy voting measure remain resolute and committed to pushing forward with their proposal.