Republicans Turn On Each Other Over Voting Rules
Source: Newsweek
Published Apr 04, 2025 at 8:32 AM EDT | Updated Apr 04, 2025 at 8:34 AM EDT
The debate on proxy voting continues to cause a rift among Republicans, with President Donald Trump now weighing in. Trump backed Florida Representative Anna Paulina Luna over House Speaker Mike Johnson and multiple MAGA lawmakers in supporting the idea that new parents should be able to cast House votes by proxy. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump said, "I don't know why it's controversial." Newsweek has contacted the offices of Johnson and Luna for comment via email.
Why It Matters
Trump siding with Luna on proxy voting increases pressure on Johnson, who already faces a possible struggle to remain House speaker if he cannot unite Republicans while holding a narrow majority in the House.
What to Know
Luna and Democratic Representative Brittany Pettersen of Colorado have been working to pass legislation that would allow House members to vote by proxy for up to 12 weeks following the birth or adoption of a child. Johnson strongly opposed the proposal and attempted to block it without a floor vote. Luna secured 218 signatures on a discharge petition, allowing a vote to proceed without the speaker's approval.
On Tuesday, nine Republicans joined all Democrats in a 222–206 vote defeating Johnson's procedural rule, which would have blocked Luna from forcing action on the proxy voting proposal. Trump said he was "in favor" of allowing new parents in Congress to vote by proxy while speaking aboard Air Force One on Thursday. In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Luna said Johnson had spoken to her about potentially lifting the proxy voting ban for new mothers who "cannot physically travel in event of emergency etc." Johnson and several other Republicans have criticized the proxy voting plan and have taken aim at Luna for the disruption it has caused.
Read more: https://www.newsweek.com/republicans-turn-proxy-voting-trump-johnson-luna-2055266