WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-WI) today released the following statement after Speaker Pelosi last night announced she would extend proxy voting through August 17, 2021.
“Proxy voting is destroying Congress, and Pelosi knows it. She also knows there is no “scientific” reason to maintain this madness. If Members of Congress want someone else to vote for them, then they should become private citizens.”
Background:
Despite the fact that members have had access to vaccines for months, more than 60 members of Congress continue to have active proxies in the House. Many of these members tend to use proxy voting on fly-in and fly-out days, and as Minority Whip Steve Scalise pointed out last week, 6 members have not voted in person except to vote for Speaker of the House.
Rep. Gallagher has consistently called proxy voting unconstitutional, arguing that it makes Congress non-essential and is being exploited by members of Congress. He introduced a resolution earlier this year that would end proxy voting.
