Representative Francis Rooney started the Republican Party Steering Committee


Members of the sophomore class were already frustrated that Rooney had not turned up to vote or meet, even before the coronavirus arrived. The Florida Republican last voted on February 13, according to a voting record posted on his website.

But Rooney stirred more feathers in the Republican Party when he recently attempted to enlist a fellow Democrat to cast a proxy vote on his behalf, even though Republican leaders have been encouraging members not to use the system. Roll Call was the first to report that Rooney planned to vote by proxy, and then walked away from the idea.

Rooney, a wealthy businessman and two-term congressman who announced his retirement last year, is the only Republican who has expressed support for the proxy vote, allowing a colleague to cast a vote on behalf of another legislator if the latter cannot be on Capitol Hill.

Democratic leaders put the proposal through the House in a partisan vote, arguing that it is the only way to keep lawmakers safe during the pandemic. President Nancy Pelosi even extended the plan to allow lawmakers to use the voting method until mid-August, as coronavirus cases continue to rise.

But Republican leaders filed a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the proxy vote, arguing that lawmakers must be physically present on Capitol Hill in order to vote. They also argue that it gives too much power to a single legislator and dilutes the representation of constituents in Congress.

“I think the voice of constituents is essential to being heard and spoken. But unfortunately, in this Congress it is not,” said House of Representatives minority leader Kevin McCarthy (Republican of California) at his press conference. weekly.