Speaker Johnson Unable To Control House GOP?
Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) is navigating a difficult situation after a bipartisan group, spearheaded by Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.), succeeded in gathering enough support to push for a floor vote on legislation that would allow proxy voting for new parents. Speaker Johnson, however, has expressed strong opposition to the proposal, calling it “unconstitutional.”
A discharge petition, led by Rep. Brittany Pettersen (D-Colo.), to force a vote on the bill, reached the required 218 signatures on Tuesday. This sets the stage for the legislation to be brought to the House floor. The bill, which would allow new parents, including those who give birth, have a spouse who gives birth, or are pregnant and unable to travel safely, to vote by proxy for up to 12 weeks, gained momentum when Pettersen, who gave birth to a son in January, participated in two major votes while bringing him to the Capitol.
Rep. Luna, who had a baby in 2023, is one of the key proponents of this change. She argues that proxy voting for new parents should be seen as reasonable and within constitutional limits. She also highlighted provisions in the bill that prevent proxy votes from counting toward quorum, addressing concerns raised by Republicans in the past.
Despite these efforts, Speaker Johnson has made it clear that he remains firm in his opposition. Having previously filed a brief with the U.S. Supreme Court against proxy voting, he expressed concern that allowing this measure would open a “Pandora’s box” and lead to more widespread use of proxy voting, ultimately diminishing the role of elected officials in the legislative process.
Johnson acknowledged that some Republicans who signed the petition might not fully understand the gravity of the issue, but he is determined to uphold the Constitution and the traditions of the House. He emphasized that while he respects their positions, he believes this measure would set a dangerous precedent. As the petition has successfully forced the vote, Speaker Johnson will now have to decide how to proceed, working within his role to protect the integrity of the legislative process.
