Speaker Says Proxy Voting "More Efficient" [semi-satire]

Semi-News/Semi-Satire ^ | 31 May 2020 | John Semmens

[John Semmens]

Concerned that traditional representative government "may be too chaotic and obsolete for our modern era," House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif) has initiated "an experimental trial of proxy voting. It's bad enough during normal times for us to have to shuttle back-and-forth between our districts and Washington DC. Now, with every step outside one's home risking a veritable death sentence from the COVID virus, it makes more sense to develop an alternative method for conducting Congress' business."

Under her initial plan, each attending member of the House would be able to cast as many as ten proxy votes for absent members in Congress. Pelosi pointed out that "corporations use this process all the time. Shareholders aren't forced to attend corporate meetings in order for their votes to be counted. They can give their proxies to management or others and authorize them to cast the votes. This saves the shareholders the trouble and expense of having to vote for themselves. I think this more efficient system should be used in Congress. I think if we can ultimately get to a point where all or the majority of the proxies are given to the Speaker, the legislative process in the House will be more streamlined and rapid."

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif) dubbed Pelosi's proxy plans "unconstitutional. Our founding document provides for the election of the people's representatives to propose, debate, and act on legislation. Being present to conduct these duties may be inconvenient at times, but it is essential." McCarthy has filed a suit seeking to overturn "this improper evasion of the supreme law of the land." Pelosi labeled the suit "a sad stunt."

if you missed any of this week's other semi-news/semi-satire posts you can find them at...

http://www.gopbriefingroom.com/index.php?topic=403576.0

[alloysteel]

There still has to be a quorum ON THE HOUSE FLOOR before the chamber is in session.

Voting by proxy is not expressly permitted anywhere in the Constitution. There can still be a “pairing” of votes, when one member is known to be of one disposition, and cannot come to the floor, if another member of the opposite political position agrees to a “nullification” of his vote, and casts the two paired votes, essentially a cancellation of both votes.