Republicans in CPAC House of Representatives accuse Congress’s absence of “public health emergency”

Top line

More than a dozen House Republicans scheduled to speak at the Conservative Political Action Conference have filed letters with the House Clerk appointing proxies to vote on their behalf, citing “the public health emergency in progress ”as the reason for their absences.

ORLANDO, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 26: Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) addresses Conservative political action … [+] Conference to be held at the Hyatt Regency on February 26, 2021 in Orlando, Florida. Launched in 1974, CPAC brings together conservative organizations, activists and world leaders to discuss issues important to them. (Photo by Joe Raedle / Getty Images)

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Highlights

Republicans initially opposed proxy voting when it was first proposed by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi as a way for the House to continue to operate during the pandemic, with all vote against allow proxy voting.

GOP House Leader Kevin McCarthy and dozens of House Republicans including Steube, Budd, Norman, Kelly, Green and Banks even tabled a trial challenging the legality of proxy voting, arguing that the Constitution requires lawmakers to “actually meet in their respective chambers” to vote.

A spokesperson for Issa said Forbes in a statement that the congressman “complied with all the rules for voting in the House” before launching into a criticism of the Democrats’ coronavirus relief plan.

Gaetz noted in a Tweeter that he wrote a Washington Examiner editorial in November, declaring that “Republicans are wrong” on remote voting, which he said would be a “devastating blow to lobbyists and special interests”.

Forbes contacted each member’s offices for comment.

Key context

the proxy voting rules passed by the House requires members to submit a hand-signed letter with “an affirmative statement that, due to the public health emergency, the member cannot physically attend debates in the Chamber of the House.”

Crucial quote

“Leaders show up, no matter how uncertain the times are,” Cawthorn tweeted in July. “Democrats are cowards because they hide and don’t show up for work. I guess we can call them “non-essential staff”? “

Chief critic

Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Mass.), Chairman of the House Rules Committee, criticized Republicans for “hypocrisy” in a Tweeter, citing their initial opposition to proxy voting. “Let me understand correctly: these members cannot vote in person due to the pandemic, but they manage to attend CPAC?” ” he added.

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