Judge dismisses lawsuit to invalidate proxy voting in the House

Source: CBS

A judge has dismissed House Republicans' lawsuit to invalidate a House rules change allowing members to vote remotely due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Judge Rudolph Contreras ruled that federal courts have little power to regulate strictly legislative acts. The lawsuit, filed by House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy in D.C. District Court, contended that proxy voting in the House is unconstitutional.

"The Court can conceive of few other actions, besides actually debating, speaking, or voting, that could more accurately be described as 'legislative' than the regulation of how votes may be cast," Contreras wrote in his opinion Thursday evening. He also noted that none of the rules in question deprive members of their votes, but merely change the way votes may be cast.

A resolution to change House rules to allow for members to vote from home temporarily passed largely along party lines in May. Republicans argued that representatives are essential workers and should be present at the U.S. Capitol to vote, but Democrats say that it was safer to limit travel amid the pandemic. Many House members are older than 65 and part of a demographic particularly vulnerable to the virus. Several House members have tested positive for the virus and have subsequently quarantined.



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