[Ed. – The concern is understandable. One member will be able to cast proxy votes for up to 10 others. At the moment they’ve limited this to the next 45 days (which presumably will be working days, so it will stretch along for a while. If it’s 9 weeks, that gets them to the August recess anyway). If Pelosi should try to override a veto with a proxy vote, it’ll be time for torches and pitchforks.]
The House of Representatives on Friday passed a historic piece of legislation, allowing members to vote by proxy and conduct hearings remotely for the next 45 days because of the Wuhan coronavirus pandemic. Under the new rules, which passed mostly along party lines, congressmen and women can give written instructions to another member in the chamber to vote on their behalf. One representative can serve as a proxy voter for up to 10 other members at any given time. Those who choose to work remotely can still participate in open hearings and cast committee votes. Closed hearings, however, will still be held in-person on Capitol Hill.
House Minority Whip Steve Scalise (R-LA) sounded the alarm on the rules change during a “Hannity” special on Fox News Friday night. According to Scalise, not only is the move unconstitutional, but it puts members who represent swing districts in a bind.
