House Rules Chairman Brings Resolution to Authorize Remote Voting
Published by The Lawfare Institute
in Cooperation With
House Rules Committee Chairman Jim McGovern today unveiled a resolution that would authorize remote floor voting by proxy and digital committee hearings so that the House of Representatives can continue to legislate during the coronavirus pandemic. The resolution would allow an absent House member to authorize other members physically present in the chamber to cast votes on her behalf. The 13-member Rules panel will vote Wednesday evening on the resolution, and the full House is expected to vote on the rules changes on Thursday.
UPDATE: Press reports indicate that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi postponed consideration of this resolution and indicated that instead the issue would be closely studied by a bipartisan group led by Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Maryland) and Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) and the leaders of the Rules Committee and the House Administration Committee.
You can read the resolution here and below:
