Staff Reports
Last week, Congress was temporarily paralyzed by a spat over proxy voting regulations. Representative Anna Paulina Luna from Florida and Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana found themselves tasked with finding a compromise after former President Trump weighed in. While Trump expressed support for allowing proxy voting for new parents, he sensibly left the implementation details in the capable hands of Speaker Johnson.
Johnson took to social media to thank Trump for his guidance and highlighted the pitfalls of unchecked proxy voting, recalling past Democratic attempts that turned into a sloppy free-for-all. His warning was crystal clear: opening that “Pandora’s box” again could lead to chaos. Mentioning the razor-thin margins House Republicans are working with, he reassured supporters that thoughtful leadership was necessary to prevent Democrats from exploiting the system.
In a show of gratitude, Luna has been voicing her appreciation for Trump’s esteemed leadership, ensuring the public recognizes the revival of legislative techniques that date back to the 1800s. Her preferred solution involves “live/dead pairing,” a system she argues could accommodate situations like new parents needing to vote while juggling diaper duty. The approach, meant to uphold family values, aims to keep Congress functioning while maintaining a focus on pro-family policies.
Here's What Anna Paulina Luna, Mike Johnson Have Planned for Proxy Voting https://t.co/jk1ZIUic4f
— Observing Time (@TimeObserving) April 8, 2025
On the other hand, the Democrats are desperately clinging to their proxy voting entitlement, with Representatives Brittany Pettersen and Sara Jacobs staunchly opposing the GOP’s proposal. Pettersen’s social media musings even featured her cradling her infant son, insisting that a lack of support from the Speaker had denied new parents the fair vote they deserve. Their resistance to any compromise seems to serve more as a political stunt than an actual quest for solutions.
Despite the Democratic drama, House Republicans are determined to push forward with their legislative priorities. Recent focus includes limiting the influence of activist judges and passing the SAVE Act, which clearly states that only U.S. citizens have the right to vote. With the ongoing proxy voting skirmish behind them, it’s time for Republicans to roll up their sleeves and get serious about governance—after all, tackling judicial overreach and defending American citizenship should take precedence over modern inconveniences.
