By Mary Rooke, Daily Caller News Foundation | April 02, 2025
There is nothing more frustrating than watching Republicans waste the political capital given to them through a decisive victory on issues no one cares about.
On Tuesday, Republican Florida Rep. Anna Paulina Luna teamed up with Democrats to push the U.S. House to consider legislation allowing new parents to vote remotely, also known as proxy voting. Her fight to force proxy voting, which is unconstitutional, down the throats of House members caused House Speaker Mike Johnson to cancel all votes in Congress this week. This means another week is going by without the House working to codify President Donald Trump’s agenda.
Not only is this frustrating for the average American who is desperate to see Trump’s executive orders passed into law, but it’s a fight that pushes the annoying rise of the “GOP feminati” – the conservative version of left-wing feminism.
The U.S. Constitution allows both chambers of Congress quite a bit of leeway to establish their own rules of procedure. However, one provision is unmistakably explicit: there must be a quorum to do the people’s business. If the Constitution allowed for proxy voting, why would it require a majority of its members to be present? It’s simple. Our Founders never intended for elected officials to be able to work from home.
Luna, some other Republicans, and their Democrat friends are insisting that the House create an unconstitutional rule that gives them preferential treatment based on their sex. This is straight out of the feminist playbook. The argument is that not allowing proxy voting prevents some women from doing their job.
The same Republicans who championed the return of federal workers from their work-from-home hiatus are now turning around to create laws that allow elected officials to do it. How is this acceptable?
As a mother, I understand the realities of pregnancy and childbirth. Neither is easy to experience, and both require mental, physical, and emotional fortitude to endure. Women should be allowed plenty of time to recover. However, we have a Constitution for a reason, and proxy voting was misused and abused during the Covid-hysteria. Under no circumstances should it be allowed back into Congress.
I know this will be somewhat of a “hot take,” especially in our modern society, which requires me to believe that men and women are the same, but maybe it’s not a good idea to run for office if you know there is a possibility that you won’t be able to show up for the job. Like say, during your fertile years when you and your husband are working to grow your families.
Some women need to hear a harsh reality: not every job is appropriate for you just because you want it. I am not suggesting that women shouldn’t run for office, but you might have to wait to live your girl boss dreams. The job requirements for that position are clear; sometimes, you must choose family or career. This is why elected positions are often called a sacrifice. If you want to grow your family, you’ll have to take time off, which means your constituents are left without a representative and vice versa.
While the proxy voting caucus sings about inclusion at all costs, their constituents are left wondering at what point do they take priority over Washington’s pet issues. It would be easier to stomach a fight as stupid as this had they done anything during the last three months in office, but as it stands, nothing has been passed that helps fund Trump’s energy, border, or economic policies.
The midterms are fast approaching. The closer we get, the harder it will be to codify Trump’s agenda. But maybe that’s the point here. It seems Republicans are fine to waste the political capital given to them by voters on publicity stunts and proxy voting.
Mary Rooke is a commentary and analysis writer at the Daily Caller News Foundation
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