Following the failure of a bipartisan attempt to permit proxy voting for new parents in Congress, some lawmakers are turning their attention to state solutions as a means of encouraging and retaining younger women within state legislatures.
Republican Rep. Anna Paulina Luna from Florida was spearheading the movement within Congress but ultimately reached an agreement with U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson that omits the provision for proxy voting.
Even without a current precedent within Congress, there is an optimistic outlook towards state legislative reform. Parents advocate that proxy voting could afford women the time necessary for recovery and childcare, at a crucial juncture where issues of family and affordability are central to American political discourse.
“This is fundamentally about supporting lawmakers who prioritize family issues,” Michigan state senator Mallory McMorrow commented. Having been only the second seated senator in Michigan to give birth, she asserts that such measures should transcend partisan lines.
**Balancing Parenthood and Legislative Duties**
Proxy voting entails one legislator voting on behalf of another who is absent. In some states, remote voting is also employed, allowing lawmakers to vote via call.
In both Congress and state legislative bodies, sessions often run late, necessitating lawmaker presence far from home throughout the week.
During McMorrow’s maternity leave in 2021, no proxy or maternity leave policies existed; she nonetheless took a 12-week leave, noting that existing technology could facilitate remote voting. Such a system would benefit not only new parents but active duty military and those experiencing medical crises.
State Senator Machaela Cavanaugh from Nebraska illustrates governmental shortcomings in accommodating female legislators. Her unique experiences of bringing her infant to legislative floors and advocating for dedicated nursing areas have since set new norms.
Women’s representation advocates highlight the difficulty of public office for mothers, with women accounting for only a third of state legislators nationally.
“We need officials in office who truly understand the challenges faced by American families,” said Liuba Grechen Shirley, CEO and founder of Vote Mama, an organization supporting aspiring mothers in politics.
**Changes in Context of the Pandemic**
Remote participation was briefly embraced during the COVID-19 pandemic in numerous states, though many have since returned to traditional practices. Some regions continue to permit it.
In Minnesota and Colorado, remote participation is permissible under certain conditions, including health issues and the birth of a child. Minnesota’s Senate has broader permissions, needing only leadership approval. Earlier in the year, Virginia lawmakers facilitated remote voting for a member after childbirth.
Virginia Del. Destiny LeVere Bolling, now on maternity leave, recognized the significance of such flexibility and expressed disappointment with Congress’s recent decision.
The opposition, including House Speaker Mike Johnson, maintains that legislative work necessitates in-person involvement, concerned that allowance for proxies could lead to absenteeism.
Johnson has agreed to formalize a longstanding “pairing system,” often used informally, where present members negate the votes of those absent. Arkansas mirrors this practice.
Federal decisions often set examples for state practices; since the Federal Election Commission allowed campaign funds for childcare in 2018, 39 states have adopted similar policies, according to Vote Mama.
“The scarcity of mothers in office remains a barrier to such progress,” Grechen Shirley noted.
**Value of Physical Presence**
Hawaii House minority leader Lauren Matsumoto was refused remote voting during childbirth in late 2019. Ironically, the subsequent pandemic led to the Legislature adopting a remote approach temporarily.
Matsumoto advocates reinstating remote practices, especially as young parents increasingly join legislatures, but cautions against potential misuse.
“Hawaii’s geography poses unique challenges,” noted Matsumoto, acknowledging varying state needs.
Advocates also extend such considerations to male lawmakers, emphasizing their family presence during childbirth.
Former Missouri state Rep. Peter Merideth experienced firsthand challenges balancing legislative duties and his daughter’s health crises. Although remote participation wouldn’t resolve every family issue, it offers a valuable option.
“I’d not support routine remote participation, fearing detachment from crucial involvement,” Merideth emphasized, “but in emergencies, elected officials should not face dilemmas between their duties and familial obligations.”