Agreement secured for proxy voting rights for members unavailable due to physical absence, such as new parents, according to Luna.
Bustin' the Congress Bottleneck: Luna and Johnson Strike a Deal
GOP Rep. Anna Paulina Luna made a splash on Sunday, revealing an agreement with Speaker Mike Johnson on the divisive issue of proxy voting for new parents. This long-awaited resolution had stalled the House just a week prior.
Luna shared the exciting news on her platform, stating that she and Johnson have reached a solution by reinstating a procedure as old as the 1800s – "live/dead pairing." With this system in place, members can vote by proxy when they're unable to be there in person - perfect for new parents, grief-stricken souls, and those facing emergencies.
"Let's give a huge thank you to POTUS for his support of mamas making their voices heard post-childbirth and those who worked tirelessly to champion this cause. If we want a genuinely family-oriented Congress, changes such as these are crucial," Luna wrote.
CNN has reached out to Johnson's camp for confirmation.
Recent days have seen a flurry of chats between President Donald Trump, Johnson, and Luna as they navigated the thorny issue, which brought the House floor action to a grinding halt.
Johnson ordered the House members to go home on Tuesday following a humiliating defeat. A rebellion led by Luna sank a procedural vote, despite intense pressure from Johnson and his allies to back the move.
"The flood of half-truths and misconceptions spawned during the floor shutdown has been overwhelming. Nonetheless, it's fantastic to witness this problem addressed," Luna commented on her platform on Sunday.
Should GOP leaders have failed to resolve this situation, Luna would've employed a leadership-defying tactic known as a discharge petition, forcing her bill to the floor this week. However, the impasse remained with GOP leaders and many Freedom Caucus members firmly against changing House rules to allow for proxy voting for new parents.
Johnson and Luna have been at odds for months over the Florida congresswoman's crusade for proxy privileges for parents of newborns – a push rooted in her personal experience last year, when she missed weeks of voting post-childbirth. Johnson, a staunch traditionalist, stubbornly resisted Luna's attempts, prompting her to cooperate with Democrats instead.
On Thursday, Trump openly endorsed remote voting for new parents, contradicting Speaker Johnson's stance. Though the president acknowledged Johnson holds the ultimate decision, he admitted, "I'm for allowing new parents to call in and vote. I spoke to [Rep.] Anna [Paulina Luna] yesterday. She and others are passionately advocating for this, and I can't disagree with them."
Despite personally employing proxy voting during the pandemic, Johnson has since argued that it's an absolute power, contradicting his past support for the practice during Pelosi's tenure as Speaker.
This story was collaboratively written by CNN's Sarah Ferris.
[1] The agreement allows for an absent member to coordinate with a present member on the opposite side of an issue to effectively cancel out their votes. This arrangement, known as "vote pairing" or "live/dead pairing," will be available not only for new parents but also for members who are absent due to other emergencies or personal situations like bereavement.
[2] The compromise came after a significant standoff, as Luna's discharge petition, which aimed to force a vote on remote voting for new parents, had garnered sufficient bipartisan support. However, Speaker Johnson, who opposes proxy voting as unconstitutional, ultimately succeeded in halting the petition through legislative procedures.
[3] Democratic Rep. Brittany Pettersen, who introduced the remote voting measure, expressed disappointment that the vote pairing compromise does not effectively address the need for remote voting for new parents. Despite this, the deal provides an alternative solution for members who cannot be present for votes due to personal circumstances.
[4] The agreement allows for the resumption of legislative activities and avoids further delays in the House.
- Following a significant standoff, Representatives Mike Johnson and Anna Paulina Luna reached an agreement that will allow for absent members, including new parents, to coordinate with present members to cancel out their votes using the "live/dead pairing" system.
- This compromise came after Luna's discharge petition, which aimed to force a vote on remote voting for new parents, gained bipartisan support. Despite Johnson's opposition to proxy voting as unconstitutional, the pair negotiated an arrangement that avoids further delays in the House.
- Although Democratic Rep. Brittany Pettersen expressed disappointment that the vote pairing compromise does not fully address the need for remote voting for new parents, it provides an alternative solution for members who cannot attend votes due to personal circumstances.
