The United States Congress is staring down similar return-to-work issues as the private sector, a hearing for the pandemic-panic-induced proxy ballot regulation presented Thursday. As many workers return to the office this month, the House Committee on Rules is considering going back to pre-pandemic voting and hearing guidelines. It welcomed lawmakers to share their insights on the controversial rule permitting participants to have designated colleagues cast votes in their absence and participate in committee hearings through teleconference.
The regulations were put in place in 2020 to allow for absences related to the COVID-19 pandemic, and Republicans have normally opposed their continued usage as the panic has abated, while Democrats are typically in favor of broadening them.
Board Chairman Jim McGovern, a Massachusetts Democrat, opened up the meeting by evaluating both the benefits of the typical in-person conduct of Congress along with the brand-new remote alternatives technology supplies.
“I think there’s value to that to what America has changed in Congress, but at the moment, we didn’t get everything perfect,” he said, adding, “They helped Congress safely operate through the public health emergency, and what we’ve learned can instruct the work of this institution moving forward. But you know, I’ve always said that Congress works best when we get to know each other in person, face to face.”
Ranking GOP Committee Member Tom Cole, positioned himself strongly against the current proxy voting rules.
“Sadly, as I feared, the introduction of proxy voting on the floor and remote committee procedures have changed the nature of the institution — and not for the better,” he said. “I believe that both the proxy voting and remote meeting procedures have long since outlived their usefulness, and their present form will undoubtedly lead to significant long-term damage to the culture of this body and to our ability to continue functioning.”
Dozens of members gave testimony in favor of and against the rules, with numerous Republicans advocating an overdue return to typical regulations that the House has abided by for its entire existence. They pointed out the necessity of in-person collaborative efforts as well as the opportunity of abuse, as in the case of Democratic Rep. Greg Stanton of Arizona joining a board call from his boat, which was harshly criticized by Democrats. Cole even pointed out that “magically, proxy voting doubles on Fridays.” A phenomenon seen in the private sector for decades.
“Members might vote by proxy or participate in the duties of our elected office by video link from vacation homes, fishing boats, and occasionally in the wee hours of the morning, maybe from the comfort of their own bed,” said Illinois Republican Rep. Rodney Davis, who testified and answered questions for several hours. “How dare we be the members that decide not to show up at the Capitol for the American people. … Yet over the last two years, the speaker and the outgoing majority have quite literally allowed representatives to phone it in.”
Democrats favored maintaining the new rules as a far better reflection of the march of technology that currently makes remote participation practical. They additionally stated the rules make balancing their services to constituents and the needs of personal and family life much easier.
“It’s ironic that one of the biggest leaps forward that this institution has taken to be more family-friendly was actually caused by a global pandemic,” said Rep. Linda Sanchez, a California Democrat. “Too often that obligation means we as parents have to choose between taking care of our children when they are sick or hurt or making sure that our constituents’ voices are heard.”
Sanchez communicated how she had to interrupt her doctor-ordered bed rest 2 weeks after delivering her child by cesarean section to attend a vote in 2009. Proxy ballot, she said, would have allowed her to recuperate properly from childbirth.
Another Republican debate during the six-hour discussion was that the absence of in-person socializing in between associates throughout the aisle has actually resulted in the sharper polarization in politics, an idea Democrats scoffed.
“Give me a break,” McGovern jeered.
Democrats contend that remote committee processes are a greener, much more economical, and a lot more equitable way to allow individuals to testify who otherwise wouldn’t have the chance.
Democrat Rep. Veronica Escobar of Texas proposed a compromise. While she stated there ought to be limitations on proxy ballot, she supported enabling each member of Congress 20 or two proxy ballot days a year so they could take care of various other significant issues.
“I don’t think it needs to be an either/or proposition at all. … I think we can approach this in a practical way,” Escobar said.
In January, the Supreme Court refused to hear a claim submitted by Congress’ Republicans saying that proxy voting was unconstitutional.