House Business Done For the Week After a Handful of Republicans Vote With Dems on Proxy Voting

A band of Republican lawmakers on Tuesday voted to quash Speaker Mike Johnson’s effort to kill a measure that would allow proxy voting for lawmakers who are new parents. Johnson had attached a provision killing the vote to unrelated Republican legislation tied to a package of bills. The procedural vote to advance the GOP’s package of bills for the week failed 206-222, with nine Republicans voting with all 213 Democrats.

The failed vote means the GOP’s legislation cannot move forward for a final vote this week.

Rep. Anna Paulina Luna’s (R-Fla.) had led the effort to override Johnson by launching a discharge petition, which can force a vote on any measure without the support of leadership if 218 House members sign on. Luna, who gave birth to her first child in 2023, recently left the House Freedom Caucus over their opposition to her bill allowing new parents to proxy vote.

The congresswoman got the signatures she needed to hold the vote and got nine Republicans to vote with her against Johnson. Those nine Republicans were Reps. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.), Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.), Will Kiley (R-Calif.), Nick LaLota (R-N.Y.), Jeff Van Drew (R-N.J.), Max Miller (R-Ohio), Greg Steube (R-Fla.) and Ryan Mackenzie (R-Pa.).

Following the vote, a disappointed Johnson told reporters that the results were “very unfortunate.”

“A handful of Republicans voted with Democrats to take down a rule—that’s rarely done,” Johnson said.

The speaker noted that “96 percent of republicans voted against proxy voting because they believe it’s unconstitutional.”

“This rule being brought down means we can’t take any further action on the floor this week,” he added.

The House was set to hold votes this week on the election integrity “SAVE Act,”  and repealing Biden’s regulations.

On Wednesday, the House was also slated to vote on a bill from Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) restricting activist federal judges from issuing nationwide injunctions.

“All that was just wiped off the table. It’s very unfortunate,” Johnson lamented.

Congressional leaders told reporters that they were sending lawmakers home for the rest of the week and would bring them back Monday.