House GOP Faces Setback on Proxy Voting for New Parents
House Speaker Mike Johnson's bid to block new parental proxy voting was defeated as bipartisan support rallied behind the proposal, foreseen to shape congressional family policies.
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The canceled votes raise questions about leadership’s next move.
House cancels rest of votes for week after GOP floor rebellion
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Because the rule failed, the legislation cannot move forward, and Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) cancelled votes for the rest of the week as a result.
The nine Republicans who rebelled against Johnson- Washington Examiner
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The revolt was the first legislative setback Republicans have faced since Donald Trump returned to the White House with the GOP holding a slim majority in Congress’s lower chamber.
House revolts over Republican bid to stop new parents from voting by proxy
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It is unfathomable that in 2025, we have not modernized Congress.
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It’s the first time in modern House history that the leadership was taking the extraordinary step to try to halt a discharge petition when it’s this far along.
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By defeating the special rule, Luna and Pettersen temporarily blocked Republican leaders from bringing up other House business, leading Johnson to cancel votes for the rest of the week.
2 mothers bring the House to a halt over push to allow proxy voting for new parents
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The move to block the rule was the latest in an internal House GOP clash.
Republicans and Democrats team up to defy House leadership on voting for new parents
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The remote vote issue has deeply divided the GOP conference when the White House and Republicans are trying to press forward on their sweeping legislative agenda.
GOP lawmakers sink House Speaker Johnson's effort to block remote voting push for new parents
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The revolt escalates the battle over proxy voting into a full-blown legislative war as Republicans grapple with arguments over constitutionality, supporting families, and how much power GOP leaders have over the House floor in the historically slim majority.
House Republicans torpedo Johnson effort to block proxy voting for new parents
The Hill·19d·ReliableThis source consistently reports facts with minimal bias, demonstrating high-quality journalism and accuracy.CenterThis outlet is balanced or reflects centrist views.It was a high-profile setback for the speaker, who rarely exercises the power of his gavel in such a determined way as he did trying to prevent the bipartisan plan from two new mothers — Republican Rep. Anna Paulina Luna of Florida and Democratic Rep. Brittany Pettersen of Colorado.
Speaker Johnson tries to squash proxy voting effort from new moms in Congress
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Even some Republicans on the House Rules Committee, which did ultimately advance the measure, were frustrated by what they saw as a last-minute play by leadership that was done without briefing those GOP lawmakers, Fox News Digital was told.
Anna Paulina Luna forces House leadership's hand on proxy voting as GOP war escalates
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Johnson’s stance is drawing complaints from across his GOP conference, many of whom see his position as anti-family in a Congress that includes more and more young parents.
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Summary
In a pivotal vote, Speaker Mike Johnson's attempt to block a proxy voting proposal for new parents was thwarted as nine Republican members joined Democrats, defeating the motion 206-222. Representatives Anna Paulina Luna and Brittany Pettersen, both mothers, spearheaded the initiative to allow legislators up to 12 weeks of remote voting to care for newborns. The defeat reflects a growing bipartisan demand for modern family policies in Congress, amidst tensions within the GOP. Johnson is now regrouping as further legislative action is halted, the outcome spotlighting the importance of parental representation in Congress.
Perspectives
House leadership faced backlash after their failed attempt to block a bipartisan resolution allowing proxy voting for new parents, exemplifying significant intra-party conflicts.
Rep. Anna Paulina Luna's bipartisan push for proxy voting for new parents garnered support from over 200 colleagues and has forced the House to consider her proposal despite strong opposition from GOP leadership.
The divisive dispute over proxy voting highlights the tension within the Republican party between traditional views on congressional attendance and the necessity for procedural changes to accommodate increasing numbers of young parents in Congress.
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