In 2021, Democratic Party members dominated the controversial proxy voting process in the House

The GOP-leaning Ripon Society released a study showing that Democrats dominated proxy voting in 2021.

The Democratic Party pushed through a measure allowing members to vote absentee through proxies. The measure supposedly satisfied the Constitutional requirement that lawmakers vote on and approve legislation in person.

A limited-time proxy voting was required under H Res. 965, sponsored by Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Mass. ), since little information about the CCP virus was available in 2020. Only three Democrats voted against the measure, compared with the unanimous Republican vote and the only independent vote in the chamber.

As of the date of publication, the rule changes have been consistently extended since May 2020.

Democrats, by contrast, have taken full advantage of the more relaxed rules, casting the overwhelming majority of votes by proxy in 2021. Republicans have generally opposed the measure since its passage, and the Ripon Society's study of the practice in 2021 shows that most Republicans have refrained from using it.

The total number of proxy votes cast in 2021 was 17,263 - about 10% of the total number of votes cast. Nearly 72.5 percent of those proxy votes were cast by Democrats; just 27.5 percent were cast by Republicans.

In terms of party breakdown, 202 out of the 225 House Democrats, or 89.78%, used a proxy vote at least once. Comparatively, only 137 out of the 215 House Republicans utilized the system at least once, meaning 63.72 percent voted by proxy.

Is it true that House Democrats have become so averse to work that voting from their couches is now the only option they can consider?” Foxx questioned rhetorically, adding, "It is time to end proxy voting for good Now that we have been ruled by one party for so long there are many blemishes on this great body."

1st Feb 2022