Support Free Republic Folks, Donate Today!
Posted on 05/16/2020 10:11:59 AM PDT by jazusamo
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.
“You know, the thing is it gives Nancy Pelosi power, but imagine being a Democrat who goes back home in a swing district. You just voted to give your voting card in Congress to Nancy Pelosi, and she doesn't represent the values of a lot of those districts. You know, you now signed on for San Francisco values, and by the way, what are you doing now? Why are you collecting a paycheck if you want Nancy Pelosi to be the one to vote for you and represent your district, and you're representing a swing state somewhere else? And so, this could be a tough vote for those people to explain," Scalise explained. "It's unconstitutional, first of all, because a quorum under this resolution they just passed – 20 people on the floor – 20 Democrats can constitute a quorum of the House of Representatives, 435 people. That goes against Article One of the Constitution. They don't seem to care about any of that, they just want to consolidate power and spend money. I mean, a drunken sailor would be offended to be compared to them and what they did with this bill. Money to illegals, taxpayer funding of abortion, this is crazy.”
Scalise believes the House should be in session and working on behalf of the American people, just as the Senate is doing. Out of the 435 members in the House, the minority whip said about 24 people were unable to be in attendance.
"To suggest that it's complicated to get here is just fallacy. So, why [Pelosi] did this, it's about a power grab. It surely has nothing to do with health and safety ..." he explained.
The minority whip cited the number of states that are reopening their economy, including restaurants and houses of worship, as a prime example of why the proxy voting move is a power grab.
"We could finally go back into places of worship, and yet she's going to say that she doesn't want Congress to be meeting in Washington debating bills. She just would rather just take your proxy vote and hold on to it so that she can vote for you," Scalise said of Pelosi. "I'll tell you this, and of course Jason, you would have never done this either. Nancy Pelosi is not going to get my vote, she surely would not have gotten yours."
Scalise's message for those who voted in favor of the bill is simple: resign.
"But for any of those folks that voted for this bill today, how do they go back home and explain today they voted to allow Nancy Pelosi to vote for them so that they don't have to go to work anymore?" he asked. "Well, then why don't they just resign their seat and send somebody up here who wants to come and fight for restoring the American dream up here in Washington?”
VIDEO: Steve Scalise | Pelosi's priorities are telling
I say rain move the congress to a different state/town every year. Gets rid of lobbyists and all the others who profit. Turn Virginia red.
One representative can serve as a proxy voter for up to 10 other members at any given time
Sounds like a pattern for many elections. One person knows what is in the best interest of others and can vote on their behalf.
It’s already Commie Red, although mostly due to NoVA parasites.
“Under the new rules, which passed mostly along party lines...”
Sounds like Pelosi had some help from our side.
No surprise there.
Some one needs remove that witch from the Congress, legally of course. She is a devious POS. 12 of her cohorts were smart enough to vote against this and unfortunately one godumb was ignorant to support it. This would shatter any notiong of representation voting.
Pelosi effectively is the U.S. congress now. Alarming but not surprising.
This is getting beyond Rhetoric. Nancy Pelosi IS a traitor. Do something Congress!!!
Dump Congre$$. Use Convention of States to set term limits!
announce it null and void- take back control- Tell them the bill is invalid, and they will need to vote on it the traditional establushed way, otherwise they can not present it to the Senate-
While each house can make its own rules, I think this one is unconstitutional. I elected X where [per Menken’s law] X is a scoundrel, to represent me and my district. Suddenly he gives his proxy to someone else, abdicating my right to proportional representation. How do I know what to hold him accountable for next election.
there are just more waiting in the wings-
Republicans have let her run them over!
It seems like there’s enough in this new rule to at least attempt some litigation.
Support Free Republic Folks, Donate Today!
President Trump should exercise his Article II Section 3 power to convene Congress. This should nullify Pelosi's proxy gambit by making the Representatives appear in person.
As justification, Trump should appeal to the American people, saying they voted for their Representatives to stand for them, not to give so-called proxies to others. If the Representative is incapable of or unwilling to represent their constituents directly, then they should step down and let someone else do the job.
-PJ
Needs to be fast tracked to the Supreme Court.
These scandalous new rules, which probably make official how quid pro quo Pelosi has likely been running the House anyway, effectively nullify the constitutionally enumerated power of the people to elect representatives imo, Article I, Section 2, Clause 1.
"Article I, Section 2, Clause 1: The House of Representatives shall be composed of Members chosen every second Year by the People of the several States [emphasis added], and the Electors in each State shall have the Qualifications requisite for Electors of the most numerous Branch of the State Legislature."
Send "Orange Man Bad" federal and state government Democrats and RINOs home in November!
Supporting PDJT with a new patriot Congress and state government leaders that will promise to fully support his already excellent work for MAGA and stopping SARS-CoV-2 will effectively give fast-working Trump a third term in office imo.
"The “Holy Grail” of organized crime is to control government power to tax." —me
"The power to tax involves the power to destroy, [...]” —Chief Justice John Marshall, McCulloch v. Maryland, 1819.
"The 16th Amendment effectively repealed the involuntary servitude aspect of the 13th Amendment imo, evidenced by unconstitutional federal taxes." —me
"Congress is not empowered to tax for those purposes which are within the exclusive province of the States." —Justice John Marshall, Gibbons v. Ogden, 1824.
"13th Amendment, Section 1:
Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude [emphasis added], except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction."
"16th Amendment:
The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes on incomes, from whatever source derived, without apportionment among the several States, and without regard to any census or enumeration."
"It’s politically correct, under the Democratic Party and its tyrant judges, to use your voting power to make your fellow citizens involuntary servants." —me
"The Democratic elite define a "pro-choice" democracy as being able to vote for your preferred master.” —me.
"The ill-conceived 17th Amendment not only effectively politically repealed the 3/4 state supermajority requirement of the Constitution’s Article V for ratification of proposed amendments to the Constitution imo, politically correct interpretations of the Constitution now prevailing under Democratic judicial tyranny, but also consider this. That amendment also effectively nullified Congress’s constitutional Article I, Section 8-limited powers along with the Supreme Court’s clarification of Congress’s limited power to appropriate taxes." —me
"Congress is not empowered to tax for those purposes which are within the exclusive province of the States.” —Justice John Marshall, Gibbons v. Ogden, 1824.
"The constitutionally undefined political parties are basically rival, corrupt voter unions, “union dues” paid by means of unconstitutional federal taxes. Belonging to a political party means that you are a subject, not a member.” —me
"Patriots need to support PDJT in demanding that Congress moves "April 15" tax day to the day before election day." —me
"The smart crooks long ago figured out that getting themselves elected to federal office to make unconstitutional tax laws to fill their pockets is a much easier way to make a living than robbing banks." —me
"Federal career lawmakers probably laugh all the way to the bank to deposit bribes for putting loopholes for the rich and corporations in tax appropriations laws, Congress actually not having the express constitutional authority to make most appropriations laws where domestic policy is concerned. Such laws are based on stolen state powers and uniquely associated stolen state revenues." —me
I totally agree.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.