Republican trip to the border highlights how proxy voting has changed Congress
CNN
Rep. Madison Cawthorn once opposed the special Covid-era rule that lets House members vote even when they're away from the House, calling it for "cowards," but on Wednesday the North Carolina Republican made flagrant and unabashed use of it -- by traveling to the border wall for a political event with former President Donald Trump.
He wasn't alone in doing so. Eight other House Republicans also managed to appear alongside Trump at the border while simultaneously casting critical votes back in Washington. All they had to do was sign a letter to the House clerk saying they were "unable to physically attend proceedings in the House Chamber due to the ongoing public health emergency." It's the latest example of lawmakers using a tool meant to ease health concerns for expressly political means in what appears to be a clear violation of the rule. However, there's little desire from either side of the aisle to punish members for violations: Democrats see proxy voting as a way to ensure they keep their slim majority regardless of whether all their members are on Capitol Hill, and Republicans have started to use it more, despite their objections.
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